An Act regarding the prevention of illegal trafficking and gun violence among youth
in the Commonwealth
(S. 1195)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz
WHY THIS BILL MATTERS: All Massachusetts families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and illegal gun trafficking jeopardizes law enforcement efforts and weakens our communities. While Massachusetts has some of the most stringent gun laws in the nation, more needs to be done to keep illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals and youths.Most guns used in criminal activity in Massachusetts are obtained illegally, and many of those guns come from out-of-state. To save lives and keep our neighborhoods strong, we need to crack down on illegal gun purchasing, be vigilant about tracking guns that are in circulation, and confront the problem of interstate gun trafficking.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES: This bill takes a comprehensive approach to the problem of illegal gun trafficking by tightening regulations around gun purchasing, keeping closer track of guns in circulation, and taking steps to combat interstate trafficking. It curbs access to illegal guns by:
- Reducing the flow of guns into the illegal market by prohibiting bulk purchasing of firearms. Limits buyers to an average of one gun per month;
- Establishing a state database for tracking the secondary gun sales market (e.g. individual-to-individual second-hand sales, bequests, etc);
- Closing loopholes in our gun laws by requiring lost or stolen weapons to be reported to the police, and by making it a duty for anyone keeping a weapon thr ough a gift or bequest to be licensed and registered;
- Prohibiting gun shops from employing (or having as volunteers) individuals who’ve been convicted of a felony; and
- Requiring the Secretary of Public Safety to study and make recommendations about the establishment of an interstate compact to combat illegal gun trafficking among states.
