Posted on 01/16/2018 12:59:36 PM PST by pabianice
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Issues Letter To LTC/FID Holders Regarding Bump Stocks and Trigger Cranks – You Need To Read This.
EOPSS Letter Calls For Forced Surrender.
1/16/18
GOAL has obtained a letter regarding bump stocks from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, that will be mailed to all licensed MA gun owners and it is a doozy.
The letter, titled “Notice of Legislation Prohibiting Bump Stocks and Trigger Cranks” notifies addressees that the law directs EOPSS to notify gun owners about the change in law, specifically to section 18 to 21 of Chapter 110 and that the change, as of 2/1/18 makes it illegal to possess “so-called bump stocks and trigger cranks”.
The letter then defines a bump stock as follows.
“any device for a weapon that increases the rate of fire achievable with such weapon by using energy from the recoil of such weapon to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated activation of the trigger.”
The letter also defines a trigger crank as follows.
“any device to be attached to a weapon that repeatedly activates the trigger of the weapon through the use of a lever or other part that is turned in a circular motion; proved, however, that “trigger crank” shall not include any weapon initially designed or manufactured to fire through the use of a crank or lever.”
The letter continues to notify licensed gun owners that the new law prohibited the purchase, sale, or offering for sale of a trigger crank. Most egregious of all, the letter also notes that owners of bump stocks and trigger cranks have only one legal path to follow, turning the device in to the police.
The letter notes.
“if you currently possess a bump stock or trigger crank within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you should contact your local police department or the Massachusetts State Police and arrange an appointment to transfer custody of the prohibited item to the police for destruction.”
Some things to note from the letter.
• The letter notes that the devices are not legal to possess in MA, even in the home. • The letter notes that the devices cannot be legally possessed in MA with a machine gun license. • The letter contains a veiled threat stating, “Retention of such a prohibited item beyond the ninety day grace period will expose the owner to criminal prosecution. • There is no mention as to how an individual who chooses to comply with this law will be able to show proof that they did. • There is no mention about what the police will do with these devices upon receiving them.
“Were those bump stocks registered when purchased? How would Mass know who has them?”
That does not matter. I think that when nobody takes this to court, they will call for everyone to turn in normal sized magazines, also without compensation, using this “success” as precedent. Then semi-auto rifles, which MA declared to be illegal assault weapons some time ago (depending on how you interpret the AG’s letter).
I’m guessing there are few “bump stocks” in MA, and very few will be turned in (probably leftover stock from a gun shop.
What will count is successfully demanding that they be turned in without compensation.
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