Tomorrow the Massachusetts House of Representatives is going to vote on a bill that will do away with the due process and the presumption of innocence for MA gun owners.
Here is the text of the so called "red flag" bill H3610
Reading though this bill is quite disturbing. They are essentially doing away with basic due process and the presumption of innocence.
The respondent shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent does not pose a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others.
There is the requirement to try to prove yourself innocent after you have been presumed guilty.
Upon a hearing on an extreme risk protection order, if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having in his or her custody or control, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm, the court shall issue an extreme risk protection order to be effective for a period of 1 year.
There is where they can strip you of a basic civil right without you actually being convicted of any crime, note the standard of evidence is not "beyond a reasonable doubt" but merely " a preponderance of evidence" which is a much lower standard.
This bill is bad not only because it goes against gun rights but more so because it erodes basic protections of due process and presumption of innocence. Tomorrow they are going to vote on this nonsense and so today you need to call them and voice your disagreement.
You can use this tool to find your legislator, I called mine this morning, call them today. If you are out of state please call the governor's office.
Gov. Charlie Baker (617) 725-4005
In addition to asking for a "No" and asking them to defend their position on H3610 I am also asking them to vote no on these proposals
H.3578 An Act making firearm owners civilly liable for damage caused by lost or stolen firearms.
If someone steals your car you are not responsible for what they do with it nor should you be, same with guns.
H.3611 An Act authorizing the voluntary disavowal of eligibility to purchase a firearm
This one is just silly, seems like a solution to a problem that does not exist.
I left a message for my representative, hopefully he calls back before tomorrow. I want to ask him for some specific cases in MA where this law was needed. I bet there are not any.
Here is the MA gun rights group, it is called GOAL. They have lots of information and up to date news about the various assaults on liberty that people in the Bay State face, they work tirelessly against great odds, if you can support them please do.
