Proposed Gun Law will Prevent Gun Stores from Acquiring Firearms

Bill HD4420 mandates that all common carriers (such as FedEx and UPS) meet stringent requirements for firearm storage and transportation.  

(c) Common carriers…may…transport…firearms…so long as they abide by all storage and transportation requirements set forth in section 126B.

Section 126B states that firearms must be stored* and transported only while “secured in a locked container”.  Section 43 further explains that “A room or a store even if capable of being locked and surveilled is insufficient.”

The simple truth is that UPS, FedEx, and other common carriers will simply not be able to comply with this law. They do not have the ability to store firearms in this manner, and their trucks are not equipped with the locked containers needed for transportation.

Once this law passes, all shipments of firearms by common carriers will effectively be halted to Massachusetts gun stores. 

This law is being fast-tracked and is rumored to pass during the last week of July.

The bill is currently with the Judiciary Committee for review and is likely to be scheduled for next week. We urge you to reach out to the committee and let them know that you oppose this bill, which would make law-abiding citizens felons overnight.

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

James.Eldridge@masenate.gov (617) 722-1120

Lydia.Edwards@masenate.gov (617) 722-1634

Michael.Day@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2396

Christine.Barber@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2396

Cynthia.Creem@masenate.gov (617) 722-1639

john.velis@masenate.gov (617) 722-1415

Patrick.OConnor@masenate.gov (617) 722-1646

Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2380

Christopher.Markey@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2676

Brandy.FlukerOakley@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2430

daniel.carey@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2396

Chris.Hendricks@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2305

Adam.Scanlon@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2210

Rita.Mendes@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2400

Peter.Durant@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2060

alyson.sullivan@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2488

* When storing a firearm, allowance is made for the firearms to be "equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device." It is unlikely that common carriers would be able to open every firearm and affix trigger locks to them. If this task were done by the manufacturer, the carrier would have no way of verifying compliance and would face steep criminal penalties if a firearm didn't have a lock.