Earlier this summer the Supreme Court ruled in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen that some of New York's laws around concealed carry of a firearm are unconstitutional. The decision may also have implications for gun violence prevention laws in other states, including Massachusetts. We know that Massachusetts' gun violence prevention laws save lives, and we are committed to doing everything we can to strengthen and protect these laws.
We have been working closely with our state and national partners, the Legislature, and the Attorney General's office to determine the impact of the Bruen decision on Massachusetts’s licensing process. Last week Attorney General Maura Healey released guidelines that address the impact that the ruling has on Massachusetts. The Attorney General’s guidelines reaffirm that the Bruen decision only has a small impact on Massachusetts' gun laws, removing a licensing authority's ability to deny a firearms license if an individual lacks a "good cause" to carry a firearm. All other existing gun licensing requirements still stand, including the licensing authority's ability to deny a license to a prohibited or otherwise "unsuitable" person.
We are grateful to the Attorney General and her staff for their continued commitment to ensuring Massachusetts remains a leader in gun violence prevention. We will continue to work with our partners to make sure that Massachusetts remains a national leader in sensible gun safety legislation, which we know saves lives. We also know that there is more to gun violence prevention than legislation. While we work to protect our existing laws, we will continue to push for investment in community-based violence prevention and intervention programs and to disrupt the conditions that lead to future violence.