Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Massachusetts Gun Ban Legislation

Live in the People's Republic of Massachusetts? If this bill gets through, and you own a gun, you are totally screwed. [h/t Triggerfinger]

Let's just list the start of the bill:
No license to carry shall be issued pursuant to this section unless and until the applicant for the license or for the renewal of an existing license presents to the licensing authority a complete list of every handgun owned by the applicant along with a certificate of insurance verifying that the applicant has a valid insurance policy insuring against any harm or damage that might arise out of the use of each weapon on said list. The applicant shall swear under the penalties of perjury that said list is a complete list of all handguns owned by the applicant. The insurance policy shall be in an amount of at least $250,000 and shall list the specific weapons covered by the policy. The list presented to the licensing authority shall match the list on the insurance policy or the license or renewal shall not issue. In the event that a holder of a license to carry acquires a new handgun after the issuance of the license or the renewal of an existing license, the holder shall register the weapon as required by law and shall forward to the licensing authority a true copy of a certificate of insurance verifying the existence of insurance, as required herein, for said new weapon or weapons within thirty days of acquisition. Such a policy of insurance shall be available to satisfy any judgment for personal injuries or property damages arising out of the unintentional, accidental or unlawful use of an insured weapon, provided that, in the event of multiple judgments, judgments for medical bills shall have a priority in the order that said judgments are satisfied and, provided further, that medical bills paid for by or owed to the Commonwealth and any municipal or regional governmental entity shall have a super priority and shall be satisfied first out of all such judgments for medical bills. In the event that a judgment issues against the license holder for personal injuries or property damage that cannot be satisfied by the required insurance policy due to the holderÂ’s failure to maintain said policy, the license holder may be punished by imprisonment by not more than five years.
$250,000 insurance policy I am certain is cheap. Especially with how Mass. tends to regulate the insurance industry. But Hey, I'm betting it's to ensure safety of the children. Not living in Mass, I wonder if all car owners are required to have that much insurance on their vehicles. Considering far more injuries and damage occur from cars, it would only be logical that the law would require such insurance. That is if you follow the logic in this bill.

Go and read the section on who will make up the 9 person panel that will decide on whether you're fit to own a gun.


2 comments:

Granted said...

Oh merde!

Well, time to find another job in another state that's not run by hoplophobes.

Of course, it might not pass... One can hope.

Oh well, time to make sure my GOAL membership is up to date & pass them some more money for lobbying, call my local congress critter, call the governor (soon to be ex), cross my fingers, sacrifice a virgin white goat...

Granted said...

Crap, did you see the other provisions? 20 hours of class room instruction and 4 hours on the range? Oh sure, I can take a couple of weeks off every couple of years in order to renew my license. This and the $250,000 insurance are simply turning this into a rich people only need apply type of law. Surely there'll be some sort of appeal there. Plus, with this new Supreme Court, it might just be possible to get some of these silly assed laws struck down since the right to keep & bear arms is part of the bill of rights.

What a crock.