- July 08, 2004
Governor Mitt Romney has signed into law a permanent assault weapons ban that he says will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on these guns.
“Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts,” Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony on July 1 with legislators, sportsmen’s groups and gun safety advocates. “These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”
Thanks EV. Scratching Romney off the list now like a line item veto.
Uh-oh - first i’d hear this.
I wouldn’t scratch him off just yet. Romney is supported by and is a member fo the NRA. More of the rest of the story:
Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation aimed at providing one clear definition of a loaded shotgun or rifle for the state’s hunting enthusiasts. For years, two competing definitions had existed on the books, leaving law abiding gun owners wondering when and how they can enter or cross a public way with their firearms.
“On behalf of the lawful gun owners of the Commonwealth, I would like to thank Governor Romney and all who took part in the passage of this legislation. We have taken another important step in reforming the 1998 gun laws,” said Jim Wallace, Executive Director of the Gun Owner’s Action League. “This new law addresses a conflict that had previously caused great concern in those who use traditional muzzle loading rifles and shotguns. Now they confidently know what is expected of them and can enjoy their heritage without the fear of being prosecuted for violating a poorly written law.”
(Massachusetts Clarifies Muzzleloader Law, Buckmasters, November 22, 2005)
Gov. Romney signed legislation requiring all new hunters to take a hunter education course. The measure had the strong support of sportsmen and gun owners.
“We are pleased with the passage of yet another correction of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998, which created a confusing standard for acquiring a hunting, sporting or fishing license,” said James Wallace, GOAL’s executive director. “Prior to the passage of this law some eight years ago, hunter education was mandatory for all first time hunters. While GOAL does not normally support mandatory training, it is our belief that every first time hunter should be exposed to the ethics, safety aspects and laws in Massachusetts regarding hunting before taking to the field for the first time.”
(Romney Signs Legislation to Promote Hunter Safety, July 6, 2006)
On the 31st anniversary of the Gun Owner’s Action League, Governor Romney declared May 7, 2005 as “The Right to Bear Arms Day” in Massachusetts to honor “the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms in defense of their families, persons, and property and for all lawful purposes, including the common defense.”
(Romney retreats on gun control, Boston Globe, January 14, 2007)
Opponents of gun control and critics of Governor Romney point to the fact that he signed firearms legislation in July, 2004 that included a ban of assault weapons in Massachusetts. However, the bill only reaffirmed an existing Massachusetts state ban on assault weapons that was enacted as part of sweeping gun control laws passed in Massachusetts in 1998, five years before Romney took office, and didn’t ban any additional guns. The state ban of assault weapons enacted in 1998 was not due to disappear, nor would it have become invalid with the sunset of the federal ban in September, 2004.
(Massachusetts - Firearms Reform Bill Sent to the Governor`s Desk, National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action, June 29, 2004)
The firearms reform bill signed by Governor Romney in 2004 had the endorsement of the NRA, Gun Owners’ Action League, law enforcement and Massachusetts gun owners. The bill added several measures these groups favored, including a lengthening of the terms of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry, namely;
1) Extending the term of a firearm identification card and a license to carry firearms from four years to six years,
2) Granting a 90-day grace period for holders of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry who have applied for renewal, and
3) Creating a seven-member Firearm License Review Board to review firearm license applications that have been denied.
“This is truly a great day for Massachusetts’ sportsmen and women. These reforms correct some serious mistakes that were made during the gun debate in 1998, when many of our state’s gun owners were stripped of their long-standing rights to own firearms.”
(MA State Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D), July 1, 2004)
“I want to congratulate everyone that has worked so hard on this issue. Because of their dedication, we are here today to sign into law this consensus piece of legislation. This change will go a long way toward fixing the flaws created by the 1998 law. Another key piece to this legislation addresses those citizens who have applied for renewals. If the government does not process their renewal in a timely fashion, those citizens won’t be put at risk because of the 90 day grace period that is being adopted today.”
(MA State Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. (R), July 1, 2004)
“There are a lot of good things in the bill,” said Jim Wallace, legislative director of the Gun Owners Action League, the state’s leading pro-gun group. “In all, the bill represents a healing process, or the beginning of the healing process, between lawful gun owners and the Massachusetts Legislature.”
(State moves on assault weapons ban, Boston Globe, June 24, 2004)
The firearms reform bill signed in 2004 prohibited the sale of the same weapons in Massachusetts banned in the 1998 legislation but loosened other restrictions imposed by the 1998 gun bill. Therefore, after Governor Romney signed the gun bill in 2004, gun owners in Massachusetts had fewer restrictions on gun ownership than at any time since 1998.
The NRA gave Mitt Romney a rating of ‘B’ in the 2002 election race for Governor of Massachusetts.
(Romney retreats on gun control, Boston Globe, January 14, 2007)
Mitt Romney joined the NRA in August, 2006 and signed up for a lifetime membership. Romney said of the NRA, “I think they’re doing good things, and I believe in supporting the right to bear arms.”
(ABC News This Week interview with Mitt Romney on Feb 18, 2007)
Governor Romney: “I know the NRA does not support an assault weapon ban. So I don’t line up on that particular issue with the NRA, either does President Bush. He likewise says he supported an assault weapon ban.”
“Today we don’t have the Brady bill because we have instantaneous background checks. That’s no longer a operative or needed measure.”
“But I’m a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights. I believe people, under our Constitution, have the right to bear arms.”
“We have a gun in one of our homes. It’s not owned by me, it’s owned by my son, but I’ve always considered it sort of mine.”
“I’ve been a hunter all my life, not frequently, but as a boy, when I worked on a ranch in Idaho, we used to go out shooting rabbits, because they were eating all the barley, and I got pretty good with a single shot .22 rifle, and been quail hunting more recently.”
“So I’m a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population.”
(ABC News This Week interview with Mitt Romney on Feb 18, 2007)