New Restrictions Fail To Put Damper On Permit Applications In One State

By Tom Knighton

People who want to carry a firearm will do what they can to carry one. If possible, they’ll do it legally as that’s generally the preference for most people. That means even if you throw up more restrictions and regulations, they’ll continue to jump through the hoops in order to get permission to carry legally.

That’s exactly what’s happening in Massachusetts as we speak.

More than 100,000 new gun licenses were issued to Massachusetts residents over the past five years, even as the state tightened gun control laws.

Statewide, there were 397,548 active Class A firearms licenses — which allow the holder to own rifles, shotguns or handguns — as of Jan. 22, according to data obtained from the state Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.

That’s an increase of 135,432, or 51 percent, from five years ago.

…

Exactly what is driving more Massachusetts residents to arm themselves isn’t clear.

Gun enthusiasts attribute the rise to fears that officials might impose further restrictions on gun ownership in the wake of high-profile mass shootings.

“There’s always a fear of government overregulation,” said Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners’ Action League of Massachusetts, the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association. “The problem is …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms