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Gov. Deval Patrick has favorable view of bills awaiting his signature on sales tax holiday, substance abuse, campaign finance
Gov. Deval Patrick 'favorably disposed' toward compromise Massachusetts gun bill
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BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick said Friday that he is "favorably disposed" toward a compromise bill that addresses gun violence, though he is still looking at the bill.
The bill, which was hailed by both gun owners and gun control advocates, was passed by the Legislature and sent to Patrick's desk Thursday night after House and Senate negotiators reached a last-minute compromise on a provision relating to whether to give police chiefs discretion in issuing firearms identification cards, which are required to buy a shotgun or rifle.
"I understand there was an awful lot of work that went into that compromise and I respect that," Patrick, a Democrat, told reporters at the State House. "We're going to look at it, and I'm favorably disposed."
By law, Patrick has 10 days to consider legislation before signing it, vetoing it or letting it become law without his signature.
The gun bill does not include a provision favored by Patrick that would have limited gun buyers to purchasing one gun a month. Patrick and other advocates of the provision said the limit would help stop gun trafficking. The provision was opposed by gun rights activists. A task force that made recommendations for the gun legislation could not come to an agreement on including Patrick's one gun a month provision, and the provision was not included in either the House or Senate versions of the bill.
Patrick said he is "obviously disappointed" that the bill did not include his proposal.
The bill includes a huge range of provisions aimed at reducing gun violence, including requiring the state to transmit information about substance abuse or mental health commitments to a federal database; requiring background checks for all private gun sales; increasing penalties for gun crimes; and requiring schools to improve services related to both emergency management and mental health.