Letter To The Editor: Massachusetts Must Lead Gun Reform Movement

The following is a letter to the editor from Ted Steinberg, a Needham resident running for state representative. Letters can be submitted to Needham Patch Editor Dan Libon at Dan.Libon@patch.com

As a nation, we find ourselves constantly asking: how many more have to die at the hands of senseless violence before we see change?

Our schools should not be war zones. We should not fear for our lives in movie theaters, night clubs, or places of worship. The balancing act of individual liberties should tilt towards personal safety and public health, not one’s desire to wield weapons fit for combat.

The staggering statistics only seem to get worse every week. The Gun Violence Archive shows we have almost as many mass shootings as days in the year. We had 346 in 2017 and there have already been 30 mass shootings in 2018. While Congress continues to balk at every opportunity to enact legislation that can save lives, even in Massachusetts there is more we can do.

Massachusetts should be leading the movement for change. We can start by passing universal background checks for all firearm purchases, closing the private sales loophole.

Despite touting some of the best gun violence prevention measures in the country, legislation to implement universal background checks (H.1283) remains stuck in committee.

Polls show between 80-90% of Americans support background checks for all guns. Background checks have prevented over 3 million illegal purchases. Yet, as the Giffords Law Center points out, there is no explicit requirement for background checks on private firearm sales in Massachusetts. Acquiescence to the status quo is unacceptable, especially when we can take simple measures to prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms.

We should not stop at background checks. We should take guns away from those who, after purchasing a gun, are at risk to harm others.

Another bill waiting for a vote on Beacon Hill would do just that (H.3081). This legislation establishes procedures to revoke gun ownership for individuals who pose an extreme risk to themselves or others – consistent with due process. Given the correlation between guns and domestic violence deaths, and guns and suicide, this bill is a no-brainer. When the warning signs and red flags are present, guns should not be.

Our gun reform should also target areas where our existing policies need enhancement. Our Attorney General Maura Healey did her part by banning assault weapons. Our legislators must follow suit. If we want this ban to work, we need to pass laws that update our criminal statutes to properly punish firearm dealers that sell these illegal weapons. This bill (H.1280) has been introduced, yet it too waits in committee.

Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Reactive policymaking is insufficient. We need comprehensive, common sense gun reform and we need it now.

It’s time for proactive policymaking. It’s time for proactive policymakers. Rather than waiting for tragedies to devastate our communities, politicians should be working to prevent them from happening in the first place.

To the legislators out there who are not actively promoting these solutions, we will see you on Election Day.