Is there really any purpose to GOAL? Does anyone on bacon hill listen to gun lobbying?
Many gun owners forget about the handgun confiscation initiative that appeared on the 1976 statewide ballot in Massachusetts. Thanks to the efforts of the NRA, the handgun ban got voted down. If it wasn't for the NRA MA would be worse than even NY, MD, CT, CA and NJ. However, the anti-2A MA democrat majority legislature and politicians have subsequently openly resented and objected to "outside" NRA involvement.
The MA gun owner activists from that fight started GOAL so that all our pro-2A political activism is grassroots. GOAL is the official state association of the NRA.
Lets look at August 13, 2014 when Governor Patrick signed H.4376 into law. Now known as Chapter 284, the legislation represents the most sweeping changes to Massachusetts laws related to firearms in over a decade.
Going back to the genesis of this fight, Speaker DeLeo's H.4121, the bill we faced on May 27, 2014 was drastically different from what was passed. It literally went from being a gun control bill to being a crime control bill. Some of the many anti Second Amendment provisions that GOAL stopped included a renewed ban on modern sporting rifles and one gun a month legislation. There are no new magazine or gun bans passed in this legislation.
We were also able to pass many good provisions including a fix of the 90-day grace period in regard to license renewals, elimination of LTC B's, and legalization of pepper spray.
We were successful in stopping many negative and onerous articles and amendments.
The original bill would have criminalized private sales of firearms between licensed individuals.
This section was struck and private sales remain legal.
The original bill would have applied a "suitability" clause to the issuance of FID cards. This was modified so that the licensing authority now has to prove in court that the applicant is unsuitable. For the first time ever in MA, the burden of proof is upon the licensing authority.
The original bill would have made an FID applicant list a "reason" for applying. This was struck from the legislation.
The original bill would have given the licensing authority the ability to place restrictions on FID cards. This was struck from the legislation.
The original bill had very onerous language regarding confiscated/seized firearms. We were successful in getting that removed.
The original bill would have drastically increased penalties for improper firearms storage, we were successful in removing this language.
The original bill would have granted even more power to the MA Chiefs of Police and EOPSS to determine what unsuitability is. We were successful in removing this language
The original bill would have penalized licensees for not renewing early. We were able to remove this language.
The original bill would have given the MA Attorney General unprecedented power over which firearms can be purchased in MA. (EOPSS list). We were successful in removing this language.
The original bill would have given the Colonel of the State Police power to define the curriculum for firearms safety training programs and to determine suitability of trained instructors. We were successful in removing this language.
The original bill would have forced hunter's safety courses and firearms safety courses to include a module on suicide prevention. This was amended so that the state will now provide hand out materials for the teachers.
We were able to defeat a Senate amendment which would have added one gun a month legislation.
We were able to defeat a Senate amendment which would have added a renewed AWB ban
There's a lot more at:
http://goal.org/chapter-284.html
If you don't know what GOAL has been doing for MA gun owners, you haven't been paying attention. Unfortunately, that is typical of most MA citizens as well as gun owners.