To: Governor Charlie Baker
Governor Charlie Baker: Support Attorney General Maura Healey's Enforcement of the Massachusetts...
Dear Governor Baker,
I'm writing to ask you to stand with Attorney General Maura Healey in her effort to enforce the Massachusetts assault weapons ban, which has been in place for 18 years.
As you know, AR-15 style assault rifles have killed hundreds of people in mass shootings across the country, including in Orlando, Newtown, Baton Rouge, San Bernardino, and Aurora. In the wake of these tragedies, we've witnessed too many empty expressions of sympathy, and too few elected officials who have had the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and actually do something.
In Massachusetts, Attorney General Healey has quickly and decisively curbed the sale of these deadly military-style weapons. She should be applauded for carrying out the will of the people.
Let us be very clear: if we prevent the Attorney General from taking action against the sale of copycat assault weapons, the ban means nothing. We might as well get rid of it.
We were deeply disappointed to see you question the Attorney General's action, which has finally given Massachusetts residents the full protection of the law.
Claims that her notice is unclear or that the Attorney General lacks authority to enforce this state law are the products of a wealthy and powerful gun lobby that does not speak for the vast majority of Americans, who overwhelmingly support banning assault weapons.
We aren't talking about hunting rifles or handguns here. We're talking about weapons of war that have been used -- time and again -- to commit acts of mass atrocity. If you do not stand with Attorney General Healey, you do not stand with us.
Sincerely,
Why is this important?
Last week, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey took a very bold step by announcing that she will be stepping up enforcement of her state's long-standing assault weapons ban. Massachusetts is one of just seven states with such a ban, but for many years, the gun industry has been defying the ban by manufacturing copycat assault weapons that are nearly indistinguishable from the weapons used in Orlando, Newtown, San Bernardino, Aurora, and other mass shootings. There were 10,000 of them sold in Massachusetts last year alone.
The NRA and its local affiliate are fighting back hard against Attorney General Healey. They've activated their national network of supporters to draft petitions and organize rallies. And they're flooding the phones of state legislators and Republican Governor Charlie Baker, who initially supported the AG's action but is now starting to cave to NRA pressure.
In Attorney General Healey, we have a law enforcement leader who is willing to stick her neck out and stand up to the NRA. It's incredibly important that we stand with her.
We encourage you to join this letter/petition.