Woburn Mayor Joins Coalition Backing Enforcement of Assault Weapons Ban

WOBURN, MA — Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin has joined a coalition of 19 Massachusetts mayors in supporting Attorney General Maura Healey's enforcement of the state's assault weapons ban.

Spearheaded by Newton Mayor Setti Warren, the mayors signed a letter backing Healy's move to tighten enforcement on the assault weapons ban, specifically targeting the sale of certain modified guns, which will now be treated as "copies and duplicates" of assault weapons as defined under state law.

The mayors of Salem, Lawrence, Medford, Holyoke, North Adams and Newburyport joined Warren on a conference call with the media to discuss the importance of upholding the current legislation. Galvin was not on the conference call.

"I saw firsthand how explosive and destructive these weapons can be," Warren said in regards to his experience in the Iraq war. "These types of weapons do not belong on any of our streets in Massachusetts."

In 1998, Massachusetts lawmakers approved legislation banning the sale of assault weapons in the state; however, manufacturers and dealers can make modifications to the guns to circumvent their classification as an "assault weapon," a practice Healey's initiative is focused on curbing.

The campaign will not, Warren said, apply to buyers who purchased their weapons on or before July 20.

"The attorney general has been very clear that she's not taking away anyone's guns," Warren said.

All of the mayors on the call reported that they have not received any pushback from residents of their respective cities on the measure. However, when Healy announced the crackdown on July 21, gun buyers flocked to the Four Seasons Firearm Shop in Woburnto purchase a weapon. Patch spoke to a man, who chose to remain anonymous, who stated that the people who flocked to the store on July 21 did so in part to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

"All of these people are here because they feel its their Second Amendment right to purchase whatever firearms they feel they want to," the man told Patch. "If there's a government that's trying to disarm a nation, that's a problem."

According to Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, support for the attorney general is an opportunity for the state's leaders to remain unified in a polarized political climate.

"Given the carelessness that certain candidates have begun to talk about violence, Massachusetts should stand above the rest," Rivera said.

The following mayors signed the letter in support of Healey's enforcement:

Mayor Setti D. Warren, Newton
Mayor Richard Alcombright, North Adams
Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Peabody
Mayor Stephanie Burke, Medford
Mayor Bill Carpenter, Brockton
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville
Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Everett
Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, Salem
Mayor Scott Galvin, Woburn
Mayor Donna D. Holaday, Newburyport
Mayor Edward J. Kennedy, Lowell
Mayor Jonathan F. Mitchell, New Bedford
Mayor Alex B. Morse, Holyoke
Mayor David J. Narkewicz, Northampton
Mayor Joseph M. Petty, Worcester
Mayor Daniel Rivera, Lawrence
Mayor E. Denise Simmons, Cambridge
Mayor Linda Tyer, Pittsfield
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston

Alex Newman, Patch Staff contributed to this report

>> Photo via Maura Healey Twitter