Massachusetts voters reject repeal of 2024 gun safety act
A deadline for state firearm registration passed just last week, and all regulations from the new law remain in effect.
By Elena Perry ·
More than half of all gun deaths in Massachusetts in 2024 were suicides, a statistic cited by supporters of the state's new firearm rules. Voters on Tuesday approved Question 9, keeping a 2024 law on the books that tightened regulations on licensing, training, and data collection. The measure rejects a repeal effort pushed by gun rights advocates.
Governor Maura Healey signed the legislation two years ago. She described it at the time as the state's most significant gun safety legislation in a decade. The law has phased in over the past two years. A deadline for all Massachusetts gun owners to register their firearms with the state passed just last week.
The new rules include several specific changes. They ban guns from polling places and make it a crime to carry weapons inside government buildings. The law also expands who can petition courts to confiscate firearms under red flag laws. Healthcare workers and school administrators are now added to the list of eligible petitioners.
Regulations on what constitutes an assault-style firearm were broadened. The law targets ghost guns, which are homemade firearms built from kits or 3D printouts. These guns now require a serial number to make them traceable. New firearm safety courses for permit applicants must include live-fire training, safe storage instruction, and suicide prevention material.
Ruth Zakarin, chair of Yes on 9 for a Safe Massachusetts, called the result a victory for the people of the state. She said voters said a resounding yes to protecting the legislation and keeping communities safe from gun violence. The yes campaign received backing from Healey, state and federal lawmakers, and several labor unions.
Gun rights groups used a signature campaign to place the repeal question on the ballot. They argued the law is confusing, damages hunting traditions, and places an undue enforcement burden on local police departments. Their no campaign was supported by firearms stores, firing ranges, and local gun clubs.
All of the law's regulations remain in effect following the vote. Gun rights advocates have also challenged the statute in court, claiming it violates the Second Amendment. Those lawsuits are ongoing, and courts could return a different decision than the voters.
Massachusetts has one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country. The state already had some of the tightest regulations before this new law took effect. Supporters argue the updated rules keep residents safe from themselves and others.
