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Chairmen
Joint Committee on

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HioH STREET
CLENTON. MA 0154.0
TEL: {978) 365-1955

Public Safety and Homeiand Security
ROOM ?62 STATE HOUSE
TEL. (617} 722-2230
FAX (617} 722-2846
Hamid.NaughtonniiviAhouse.gov

July 25, 2016

 

Attorney General _Maura Healey

Of?ce of Massachusetts Attorney General
One Ashburton Place

Boston, MA 02108-1518

Dear Attorney General Healey,

I am writing to respectfully express my concerns about your recent statements and efforts
issuing an Enforcement Notice relative to the sale and possession of ?rearms that are deemed to be
?copies? or ?duplicates? of guns banned under the Commonwealth?s assault weapons law implemented
18 years ago. While I understand your intentions in this matter, I feel this is a misuse and overstepping
of authority.

In the View of many of my legislative colleagues and I, the assault weapons ban has been
implemented effectively by the Attorney General?s Of?ce as well as law enforcement. However, this
recent directive, concerning so called ?copies and duplicates? of banned weapons in the current law is
not only confusing, but the vagueness of the guidance has raised signi?cant questions over which
?rearms are now banned or could be banned in the ?lture. I also am fearful this will have an immediate
economic impact on small retailers in the Commonwealth.

Through my work as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland
Security, I want to be clear that I am not opposed to revisiting the state?s gun laws, as we did in 2014,
to ensure that they follow our rights under the Second Aniendment, as well as improving the safety of
the public throughout our state. This being said, I strongly believe that any such review of our gun
control laws should be a legislative matter to be considered by both the House and Senate along with
public input.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, I would be more than happyto do so.

Respectfully,

     

HARLD P. NAUGHTO JR.
State Representative, 12? Worcester District
House Chairman, Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security