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State Rep. David P. Linsky announced today that he has filed “An Act
to Reduce Gun Violence and to Protect the Citizens of the
Commonwealth,” comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation aimed
at closing loopholes in existing state laws, requiring mental health
background checks, strengthening gun storage requirements, and
requiring liability insurance for gun owners.
“This bill is a comprehensive effort to reduce all types of gun
violence – murders, intentional shootings, accidental shootings and
suicides. There is not one solution to reducing gun violence – we
can’t eliminate it – but there are a lot of common-sense steps that we
can take to significantly reduce the everyday tragedy of gun violence
and deaths,” said Linsky.
Following a series of tragedies, Linsky invited members of the
House and Senate to discuss how gun violence could be reduced in the
Commonwealth. Over 150 members and staff attended the meeting,
representing a wide array of viewpoints including gun owners, former
members of the military, nurses, parents, hunters, and former
teachers.
“I have spoken with hundreds of people over the past few weeks in
developing this legislation – victims, police officers, criminologists,
physicians, and yes - gun owners and sportsmen,” stated Linsky. “There
are a lot of good ideas out there. We should all have one goal –
reducing gun violence and trying to keep more tragedies from
happening.”
Provisions in the bill include:
· Having one standard of the issuance of all gun licenses,
giving local police chiefs the ability to evaluate all aspects of an
application for a gun license.
· Requires proof of liability insurance for possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun.
· Requires that all large capacity weapons and grandfathered
assault weapons must be stored at gun clubs or target ranges.
· Requires live shooting as part of the curriculum for a
basic firearms safety course; this is not a current requirement.
· Requires all applicants for gun licenses and FID cards to
sign a waiver of mental health records for review to be destroyed after
decision.
· Imposes 25% sales tax on ammunition, firearms, shotguns,
and rifles; dedicates funds towards firearms licensing, police
training, mental health services, and victim’s services.
· Brings Massachusetts into compliance with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
· Limits gun buyers to one firearm purchase per month.
“Every day in America, 83 people are killed by gun violence. Many
are children.
We need to stop this madness. All of the data shows that
you are many more times likely to shoot yourself or someone in your
family than you will ever use a gun in self-defense,” further commented
Linsky. “It is time for the American people to tell their Legislators
that the NRA and the gun manufacturers do not speak for them – even
most gun owners believe that we need tighter restrictions on gun
ownership. The overwhelming majority of Americans want these measures
enacted.”
Linsky served as Chairman of House Committee on Post Audit and
Oversight during the 2011-2012 legislative session, and was an
Assistant District in Middlesex County for 14 years prior to becoming a
State Representative. Since first being elected to the House in 1999
he has been an advocate for effective gun violence prevention and gun
safety laws. He represents Natick, Millis and Sherborn in the House.