Massachusetts Gun Lobby Battles Attorney General Authority On Firearms

By Tom Knighton

In the state of Massachusetts, the attorney general has a great deal of authority on gun regulations. This is a problem for gun rights activists in the state, and they’re pushing legislation that’ll fix that issue.

The gun lobby Thursday challenged Attorney General Maura Healy’s authority over firearms regulation, supporting proposed legislation to weaken her oversight and strengthen that of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Marc Lombardo, R-Billerica, seeks to eliminate the ability of the attorney general to regulate the sale and manufacturing of firearms, a practice that began in the 1990s. The legislation follows Ms. Healey’s heightened enforcement of a long-term ban of assault rifles through a crackdown on copycat weapons.

“Last year … the AG decided to take matters into her own hands in order to decide what could be defined as an assault rifle in the state,” said John Hohenwarter of the National Rifle Association. “What she did … absolutely step out of bounds by these regulations and the … bills that are before this body are to address what she has done.”

Gun control groups, including the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, oppose Mr. Lombardo’s bill and …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms