GOAL letter asking for you to write your representatives, now!

[hminsky]

I got this by email, forwarding to those who may not be GOAL members (shame!)


Gun Owners' Action League

The Official Firearms Association of Massachusetts

P.O. Box 567 Northboro, MA 01532

Phone: (508) 393-5333 * Fax: (508) 393-5222 * Email: [email protected]

www.goal.org



Dear Member,



On Wednesday afternoon, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will hold a public hearing on many gun-related bills.GOAL encourages its members to submit written testimony in support of two important bills having a hearing that day:

*
S.1361, An Act Relative to Fair Licensing (click here for S.1361 text). This is the bill that would streamline firearms licensing to a single license. You can go to http://www.goal.org/news/billsummaries.htm to read more about what this bill would do.
*
S.1401, An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned Firearms During a State of Emergency (click here for S.1401 text). You can also go to http://www.goal.org/news/katrinabill.htm to see GOAL's statement about what this bill would do.

Tips on writing testimony. Address your letter to the two Committee Chairmen. State that you are writing in support of the bill, by number, and give one or two reasons why the bill is a good idea. Keep your testimony polite, and short (less than one page). You can mail it to: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, State House, Boston, MA 02133 or email it to: [email protected] and [email protected], the Senate and House Chairmen, respectively.



Don't forget to contact your own state representative and state senator to urge them to support these bills. (Go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm to access a list of representatives and senators, and their email addresses, by city or town).



Time: It would be nice to submit the testimony before Wednesday afternoon, but it is not necessary. Testimony submitted this week would still be in time.



If you have questions, you can email GOAL staff at [email protected] or call us.

 

[hminsky]

Here's what I wrote to the officials and my state reps

Dear

I am writing in support of the following two bills related to firearm licensing and ownership
in our state

S.1361, An Act Relative to Fair Licensing

S.1401, An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned Firearms During a State of Emergency

The first bill, An Act Relative to Fair Licensing, is needed because
the current process for applying for a firearms license in our state
is confusing and seriously lacking in accountability. There have been
cases where applicants for licenses or renewals have waited months for
their licenses to be processed, with responsibility being shuffled
between local and state agencies, while the citizen waits in a very
serious limbo and possible legal jeopardy.

The second bill, An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned
Firearms During a State of Emergency, will prevent the shocking and
distressing situation which occurred in New Orleans, where lawful
citizens were stripped of their only form of protection during a
serious breakdown of civil order.

In Massachusetts, the violent crime is committed by non-licensed
criminals, who would not be eligible for a firearms license. The
number of crimes involving firearms committed by licensed firearms
holders is vanishingly small, and we should not be punished for the
actions of a small core of violent repeat offenders in our cities.

Holders of firearms licenses already are subject to extremely
stringent background checks, screening, and safety requirements, and
we are among the most responsible and civic minded citizens. Please
help pass these laws to make the process less arbitrary and
capricious for us.


Thank you,

 

[dixidawg]

Bump this one to the top.

Have you contacted your reps yet?

If yes, thank you!

If not, why not?

GOAL is only as effective as you make it. They are asking that you act NOW. You can make a difference. Please contact your legislators and ask all your friends and relatives to do the same.