by Marty Green
In the wake of another shooting by an untreated person with mental health issues, the Gun Bill proposed by Speaker DeLeo is well-timed, and a step in the right direction for Massachusetts. Responsible citizens will, of course, still be allowed to buy, sell, own and use guns according to their second amendment rights. The law is designed to both protect those liberties, and preserve the safety of Massachusetts’ families.
It addresses both the legal sale of firearms, streamlining that system, and looks to prevent the illegal trade and criminal use of such weapons. The criminal/mental health background checks, required by the bill, will help keep guns out of the hands of those who could pose a threat to our communities. New licensing rules will allow authorities to trace the movement of weapons at the point of sale, and aid in preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.
In addition, local authorities will be required to trace guns used in crimes so we can discover how they slipped through the cracks; and the new “suitability” requirements will keep gun licensing powers in the hands of our LOCAL and trustworthy Police Chiefs, a procedure I see no need to change.
Most importantly, the bill will also enhance the ability of our schools to address mental health issues through education and teacher training. In doing so, it endeavors to ultimately curb the growing problem of gun violence by youth. Safety and civil rights are imperative and this bill hopes to preserve both.
I hope my fellow candidates in the 9th District race will agree that we can and should do more to protect the residents of Grafton, Northbridge and Upton.
UPTON DAILY 
As was made clear by the U.S. Supreme Court in the District of Columbia v. Heller case (2008), Americans have a constitutional right to individual firearms ownership and use. And as was made clear in the McDonald v. Chicago case (2010), that right is enforceable against the states.
This being so, the only thing which can be accomplished by making the issuance of a Massachusetts FID card discretionary, would be to put the state of Massachusetts on the receiving end of what would surely be another landmark Supreme Court case.
The simple truth is that Americans have a right — not a privilege, but a right, to own firearms.
And for that reason, the newly proposed law HD4253 (see it here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/226963537/Mssachusetts-2014-Gun-Law-HD4253-DeLeo-Gun-Law-Text) in so much as it seeks to make FID cards discretionary (“may issue” instead of “shall issue”), does nothing more than deprive ordinary law abiding citizens of their rights.
It is already illegal for a criminal to possess guns in Massachusetts. And it’s already impossible for criminals to get a gun license or FID. Therefore, nothing is gained by making FID cards subject to the “discretion” of police chiefs (or any other bureaucrat).
In seeking to pass this law in its current form, the Massachusetts Legislature is once again seeking to deprive honest, law abiding Massachusetts residents of their civil right to self-defense.
DAN GREGORY
Milford
Here Here! No one could argue that any of these very good common sense measures would infringe upon their rights. Well done. And it helps families preserve their rights to live in a safer society. A great start. Thank you.
Then perhaps you didn’t read my link.
http://www.redmassgroup.com/diary/18175/is-bob-deleo-trying-to-destroy-the-legacy-of-lexington-and-concord