For Immediate Release
April 29, 2004
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Lawmakers To Unveil Common Sense Gun Safety Legislation That Preserves Assault Weapons Ban

Bill rejects attempts to weaken current prohibition on guns for convicted criminals

With a federal assault weapons ban set to sunset in September because of inaction by President Bush and a Republican Congress, legislators and gun safety advocates will gather at a press conference on Thursday April 29th at 11:00 AM in the Senate Reading Room to unveil the details of a bill that will preserve the state's landmark assault weapons ban and prohibit the sale or transfer by dealers of assault weapons owned prior to 1994 (when the ban went into effect). Law enforcement officials will also decry long-standing attempts to weaken a current Massachusetts law that prohibits convicted criminals from owning and possessing firearms.

The Senate is expected to begin debating the omnibus bill -- released in March by the Joint Committee on Public Safety -- at Thursday's formal session. The common sense gun safety legislation will also create a 90-day grace period for residents that are re-applying for a Firearms Identification Cards (FIDs) or License to Carry (LTC).

WHAT: Hailing their proposal as "sound public safety policy," legislators will unveil details of gun safety bill to preserve and enhance the state's assault weapons ban. Law enforcement officials will speak out in opposition to attempts to weaken current gun safety laws.

WHEN: THURSDAY, April 29th at 11 AM
WHERE: Senate Reading Room, State House
WHO: Senator Jarrett Barrios (D-Cambridge), Senate Chair, Joint Comm. on Public Safety Representative David Linsky (D-Natick)
Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon, MA Chiefs of Police Association
David Cortez, State Police Association Massachusetts
John Rosenthal, Stop Handgun Violence
Toni Troop, Jane Doe Inc.
Betsy Boggia, Million Mom March

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