News/Editorials and other tidbits from the Web.

GOAL Wins Again!   

Muzzleloader Regulation Change Now Official
A regulation change allowing deer hunters to use a hinge or break-open action muzzleloader during the primitive firearms season for deer has officially been enacted and will be in effect for the 2011 deer season. Previously, this type of muzzleloader was prohibited from use during primitive firearms deer season. The 2011 Primitive Firearms season for deer begins on December 12 and ends on December 31. Deer hunters are reminded that all blackpowder guns used during this season must load from the muzzle. After a review by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and a Public Hearing held in the spring, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board approved the regulation change in April of 2011. The regulatory change became official when it was published in the Massachusetts Register and the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) by the Secretary of the Commonwealth this summer.

Visit the MA Wildlife Site for more info.
Visit GOAL.org for a full account of GOAL's work on this legislation

Action: Please call your legislators and urge them to sign onto House Minority Leader George Peterson's Bill, "An Act To Repeal The Ban On Modern Sporting Arms". 

 

Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr will be filing this legislation on Friday August 12, 2011. If you would like to help this legislation, please call your local legislators and ask them to sign onto Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr's bill, "An Act to Repeal the Ban on Modern Sporting Arms". There will be no bill # until after it is filed, the name of the bill and the fact that George is filing it should be sufficient info for your local legislator to sign on, the easiest way for the legislators to sign on is to have them call David at Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr's office, Phone: 617-722-2100 Fax: 617-722-2390 or they can email him their support, George.Peterson@mahouse.gov.

Below is GOAL's letter to MA Legislators to educate them about this bill.

 

August 3, 2011

RE: Bill to Repeal Ban on Modern Sporting Arms

Dear Legislator,

Since the passage of the ill-conceived 1998 Gun Control Act, the citizens of Massachusetts have been forced to live with its disastrous results. Many of you have received countless complaints and calls for help from law abiding constituents in regards to these laws. Once again, lawful citizens are being threatened needlessly by outdated confusing laws.

In May of 2011 an unsigned and undated "Advisory Letter" was sent out by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPS) regarding certain arms and feeding devices. Virtually everything in the letter was factually incorrect and has caused very serious legal concerns among firearm retailers and licensed citizens including law enforcement officers.

The letter states "G.L. c. 140 Section 131, prohibits the possession of assault weapons and large capacity feeding devices by individuals in the Commonwealth." This statement is factually incorrect. As most gun owners are well aware, licensed individuals can legally possess and transfer these items if they were lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994. The letter then contradicts itself by stating that this exemption is only valid if they were possessed "under a Massachusetts license." No such requirement exists in Massachusetts law or regulation!

In the same letter EOPS then attacks law enforcement officers by stating that the exemption for purposes of law enforcement does not allow police officers to possess these items for their own personal use, or for both on-duty and off-duty use. GOAL is not aware of any such regulations or court rulings restricting this exemption, but because of the advisory letter from EOPS, law enforcement officers are concerned they may face up to ten years in prison for potential violation of the law.

For more information on this, please see our EOPS/FFL Letter Info page here

GOAL Blog By Executive Director Jim Wallace 

Once again we are in need of some volunteer help at the GOAL office, 37 Pierce St, Northboro.  This work would entail helping Tara prepare the monthly mailing, please e-mail Tara at the GOAL office if you have some time to spare M-F 9 am - 5 pm during the next few weeks.

Also: The world famous Topsfield Fair is just around the corner.  As always GOAL will have a booth courtesy of the Essex County League of Sportsmen.  This year the fair will be held from 9/30/11 - 10/10/11, open 10 am - 11 pm. 

GOAL usually sets up 4 hour shifts for volunteers.  If you can help us, please call Angi at the GOAL office, 508-393-5333 x206.

TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS for House Seats are now scheduled!

The open seats are:

• 3rd Berkshire primary election 9/20/11, general election 10/18/11 
• 12th Bristol primary election 8/23/11, general election 9/20/11

If you live in one of these precincts please pay attention to this page, GOAL will update it with candidate information as they file, and hopefully fill out our questionnaire as to where they stand on the Second Amendment. 

Please ensure that your voice is heard and that OUR RIGHTS are protected on election day!

Go to the GOAL Candidate Ratings page for more info on the candidates.

• September 11, 2011 GOAL Club Rep Seminar at Marlborough Royal Plaza - Best Western - Details Soon! 
• September 18, 2011Crushing Clays Jr Trap Championship  
• September 25, 2011 GOAL 'Shoot-B-Q' Firearms, Food, and Fun!  

GOAL Affiliated Club Events

If your club is officially affiliated with Gun Owners' Action League and is running an event of some sort, here is where you can advertise it. Please email me the information (who, what, when, where, how much) or a link to your  web page.

For a full listing of shooting competitions go to www.goalshooters.org.  
More events here

Are you planning a wedding, birthday, or other special event? Check out our listing of Affiliated Club Function Halls