GOAL Alert – S.2572 “SAFER Act”

GOAL Alert – S.2572 “SAFER Act” 

Bill to go to the Senate for a Vote Thursday!

On Thursday, January 25, 2024 the Massachusetts Senate released its
version of the House’s anti-Second Amendment attack (H.4139). While
decidedly different from the House bill, the senate version brings some
similar and some very different concerns.

GOAL is not seeking to file any amendments. Like the House bill, the
senate version is so convoluted that there is no way it can be fixed
with amendments. (See GOAL’s Summary.) 

“The fact that legislators are constantly telling us, well its better
than the House bill, does not forgive the substantial assault on our
civil rights,” said Jim Wallace Executive Director of GOAL. “Like
the House bill, there is absolutely nothing in this bill to address
crime and mental illness. _The senate’s proposal would produce massive
authority to create limitless regulations and authority of the Attorney
General to use the proposed laws in a punitive manner even against
people outside of the 2A community!”_

We do have to mention that despite what members may have heard, the
bill’s drafter, Senator Creem, had an open-door policy with GOAL. We
actually met with her and her staff on several occasions as well as
other senators. The end product was very bad, but that part of the
process was indeed better. At least the Senate did not lie to us like
the House leadership consistently did.

What is not much different from the House effort is the process. The new
language was only released on Thursday. Amendments are due today,
Monday, January 29th, and the bill is set to go to the senate floor for
a vote on Thursday with no public hearing.

Furthermore, regarding the process, is the concern that this bill is
actually an amendment to the House’s version of the bill. This means
that, if the Senate decides to vote for this bill, it will then move to
a Conference Committee where the House’s version comes back to the
table where some of the most egregious proposals still has a pathway to
becoming the law. We will have more of an explanation about this on the
GOAL website soon.

Please call Senate President Karen Spilka and ask the S.2572 be tabled
until such time that an open and honest public hearing can be scheduled
with reasonable notice. She is the only one who can slow this process
down!

Contact your local state senator and share your concerns about the bill
and the lack of public process. Also, share GOAL’s summary  with
them.

Contact your local police chief and ask them why they are supporting
this bill. Ask them if they have read our summary of the bill. GOAL’s
summary 

Senate President Karen Spilka –  617-722-1500

Find your local senator. 

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