Ohh and a quick show of some past results:
GOAL's Record of Success
1974 * Chapter 649 provides a 90 day grace period beyond the expiration date of the License to Carry Firearms.
1975 * Chapter 113 requires the Department of Public Safety to send a notice of renewal for Licenses to Carry 90 days in advance of expiration.
1976 * Chapter 34 provided the first temporary extension of the grace period on a License to Carry to 170 days beyond its expiration.
1978 * Chapter 551 exempts black powder long arms and ammunition from our restrictions for non-residents. The law also increases the validity period for a non-resident license from one month to one year.
1980 * Chapter 69 allows non-residents to secure temporary permits to compete in the IHMSA internationals.
* Chapter 353 exempts collectors from the "four guns per year" display requirement when at a gun show or exhibit.
1981 * Chapter 411 was emergency legislation to temporarily extend the grace period for a License to Carry to 180 days. (This was the second time such legislation was necessary in five years.)
* Chapter 541 allows an individual to purchase any type of ammunition with either the FID card or a License to Carry.
* Chapter 597 allows a private citizen to sell more than four firearms per year, provided the sale is to a licensed dealer.
* Chapter 598 allows an individual to display for sale more than four firearms.
* Chapter 661 empowered the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to allow the use of rifled primitive firearms.
* GOAL worked to assist Governor Edward J. King in passage of "defense in the home" legislation, signed as Chapter 696.
1982 * Chapter 39 empowered the Division to issue special permits to handicapped bow hunters.
* By petition of GOAL, Governor Edward J. King proclaimed April 4th as the "Right to Bear Arms Day" in Massachusetts .
* Chapter 189 forbids gun owners' names and addresses from being public information.
1983 * Chapter 516 redefined certain firearms to protect collectors of antique rifles and shotguns.
1984 * Chapter 172 provides for certain exemptions from Bartley-Fox, such as common carriers, veteran's organizations, and organized shooting competitions.
* Chapter 333 increased the duration of a dealer's license from one year to three years.
* Chapter 420 authorizes the Department of Public Safety to issue temporary licenses to non-resident aliens for competition purposes, paving the way for hosting international shooting events here in the Bay State .
1986 * Chapter 481 provides standardization (statewide application, response time for licensing, etc.) for the License to Carry.
1987 * Chapter 249 allows Massachusetts gun dealers to sell guns at shows, providing that they comply with all record keeping requirements.
1989 * Chapter 338 removed conflicting language relative to the term of validity for a firearms dealer license.
* Chapter 339 extended the time from 10 days to 30 days in which an FID card holder must notify of authorities of an address change.
* Chapter 408 cleaned up the language regarding "minors."
* Chapter 554 removed possible restrictions from a parent or instructor when training a minor in the safe use of a firearm.
1990 * Chapter 72 established a conservation land stamp. The money raised from the sale of the stamp will go solely for the purchase of open space. This legislation was filed jointly with the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council.
* Chapter 511 removed black powder pistols from the licensing requirements. More importantly, it provided that the holder of a License to Carry a Firearm could not be held in violation of Bartley-Fox, regardless of the reason for issuance stated on the license.
1991 * Chapter 82 removed the restriction against banks from lending money to a gun dealer who wished to use his inventory as collateral.
* Chapter 89 removed the restriction against gun dealers from selling long guns or ammunition to citizens from non-contiguous states.
* Chapter 364 protects lawful hunters, fishermen and trappers from harassment. This legislation was filed jointly with the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council.
* Chapter 373 exempts shooting ranges from civil or criminal liability for noise pollution. This legislation was filed jointly with the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council.
* A resolve adopted by Massachusetts ’ House of Representatives on June 8, 1991 at 2:16 PM memorialized the Congress to support the instant check as opposed to the so-called Brady bill.
1993 * Chapter 217 allows the use of mechanized releases when bowhunting.
1996 * Chapter 258, the Rivers Protection Act, helps protect the Commonwealth’s valuable natural resources.
* Chapter 15, The Open Space Bond Bill, provides for the purchase and protection of undeveloped land, which must remain open to hunting and fishing.
* Chapter 296 allowed the Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to authorize the use of primitive firearms or shotguns with a rifle bore for hunting.
1998 * Chapter 91 declares the first week of October each year to be Eddie Eagle® GunSafe Week in the Commonwealth.
* Chapter 180, the Gun Control Act, contains 2 GOAL bills, one to standardize fees and one to create mandatory penalties for the misuse of a gun in a crime.
* Chapter 358 makes some corrections to typos in the Gun Control Act, such as the standard response time for an FID Card application and exemptions for veterans to possess rifles. With an emergency preamble, it actually took effect 24 hours before Chapter 180 did.
1999 * Chapter 1 exempts primitive firearms from storage requirements and exempts ammunition for these guns from licensing requirements.
* Outside Section 92 of the budget exempts commercial gun safes and trigger lock devices from state sales tax, to take effect January 1, 2000 .
2002 * Chapter 152 extends range protection to clubs that must move their ranges to comply with state or local laws.
2003 * Founded the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance and successfully passed into law Chapter 101 which restores the Inland Fish and Game Fund.
2004 * Chapter 150 brought several much needed reforms. These included a review board for misdemeanor offenses, a 6 year License to Carry and Firearms Identification Card, a 90 day grace period, and more.
2005 * Governor Romney issued a proclamation declaring May 7, 2005 as "Right to Bear Arms Day".
* Governor Romney suspended "administrative fees" to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund.
* Chapter 45 of 2005 allowed the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to access an additional $1,000,000 of the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund.
* EOPS passed 501 CMR 9.00 a regulation to provide free replacement licenses.
* Chapter 137 of the Acts of 2005 standardized loaded/unloaded muzzleloader.
2006 *Chapter 137 - The Hunter Education Bill
An Act removing automatic qualification for certain licenses (see Senate, No. 469, amended). Approved by the Governor, July 6, 2006
*Chapter 177
An Act further regulating the use of target shooting weapons (see House, No. 4552, amended). Approved by the Governor, July 21, 2006 (Exempted target pistols from current laws.)