Your weekly source for Second Amendment news and events in Massachusetts
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Gun Owners' Action League
We are the largest Second Amendment rights organization in Massachusetts and
we have been part of the fabric of Massachusetts since 1974
Please help us continue protecting freedom!
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Thank you for reading the Friday News!
Please remember, everything we do, including this email is made possible by the generous support of GOAL members. If you are not a member, please consider
joining GOAL
, if you are a member, please consider a generous donation, purchasing raffle tickets, or attending a GOAL event.
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Fight The Good Fight Raffle!
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GOAL Joins Amicus Brief on California Magazine Ban
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Gun Owners Action League has added our name with other state associations and law enforcement groups in an Amicus Brief in Virginia Duncan Et Al v. California Attorney General.
1/25/18
The case involves the banning of magazines holding more than 10 rounds. This came about through the 2016 California Proposition 63.
The new ban in California gave owners three options to dispose of the magazines.
1. They could sell them to a licensed retailer;
2. Sell them out of state;
3. Turn them into police for no compensation.
The case referred to as “Duncan” was brought against the state under Second and Fifth Amendment pleadings before the local district federal court. In Federal District Court’s decision, Judge Roger Benitez sided with the citizens and stated clearly that the state had not proven that citizens possessing magazines holding more than ten rounds were a threat to public safety.
GOAL Note: We had a few questions about why we are pursuing this. The easiest explanation is that this is a big picture action. Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle, with the CA case being one of the border pieces.
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GOAL CMP 1911 Bill Has Bi-Partisan Support!
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Representative Tim Whelan (R) has filed HD.4494 – An Act Relative to the Civilian Marksmanship Program. This legislation would enable MA FFL’s to transfer historic handguns from the CMP.
For many decades the
Civilian Marksmanship Program
has provided lawful citizens with historic rifles. For the first time, the program has approved the transfer of pistols through a very rigid system. However, there is a significant problem here in Massachusetts that can be easily addressed through this proposed legislation.
Problem with Massachusetts: There are two distinct problems with CMP handguns being transferred by a licensed retailer in Massachusetts.
1. Unless a handgun was lawfully possessed in Massachusetts prior to October 21, 1998 or is specifically classified as a target pistol, the manufacturer must submit each model for testing under M.G.L. Section 123, Chapter 140. Since the historical handguns being furnished through the CMP are already in circulation and may have been manufactured by several companies there is no one to submit them for testing.
2. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office also has regulations regarding the manufacture and sales of handguns within the commonwealth, 940 CMR 16.00. Like the statutory testing requirements, there is no company that can certify the handguns meet the regulatory requirements.
The model 1911 .45 caliber pistol was adopted by the US Army in 1911 and later was adopted by the Navy/Marines in 1913. The pistols have been made by many different manufacturers over the years for the U.S. Government. The 1911 is sought by collectors and used in countless competitive matches throughout the country. The pistol has been a safe reliable sidearm for military and civilians for more than one hundred years.
This bill would allow these historical pistols to be transferred by duly licensed Massachusetts’ firearm retailers to duly licensed firearm owners.
TWO BACKGROUND CHECKS PER PURCHASE – CMP Doubles Up on Background Checks:
The first NICS check makes sure the customer can legally possess the 1911 type pistol prior to shipping it to the local 01, 02, or 07 FFL dealer. The second NICS check is performed by the local 01, or 02, or 07 FFL in accordance with their standard transfer procedures. (In Massachusetts the second check would also include all state requirements for background checks and licensing.)
Take Action
Please check the link at the bottom of this article to see if your legislator is in support of this bill. If your state legislator is not listed, please call today or Monday and urge them to contact Rep. Whelan's office to sign on in support.
A large showing of support for this important bill will help ensure it’s passage through the house, senate, and various committees, before arriving at the Governors Desk.
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MA Gun Owners Get Huge Court Victory
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Range Use Wins On Nantucket!
This is a huge decision for MA rod & gun clubs and shooting ranges.
From the decision:
"The Shooting Facility does not constitute a Noise Nuisance."
This was another of the many seemingly organized attempts to shutdown existing shooting ranges. A "neighborhood group" filed a complaint to the zoning board (sound familiar?) in an attempt to force the range to cease operation.
The zoning board found in favor of the range, so the "neighborhood group" took the zoning board to court.
This decision could be very beneficial moving forward. As our regular readers know, many ranges and clubs across the Commonwealth have been subjected to this same tactic in an attempt to close them down.
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GOAL – MWGO Hosting
Concealed Carry Fashion Show
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We are pleased to announce that we are teaming up with our friends from the Massachusetts Women Gun Owners (MWGO) for a concealed carry fashion show!
The Concealed Carry Fashion Show will be an entertaining yet, educational event highlighting firearms, holsters, personal safety products and, CCW clothing. Funds raised will support the Massachusetts Women’s Leadership and Firearms Summit in April 2018.
Join us for a great night of fun, Friday March 9, 2018 at the Bass Pro Shop in Foxborough.
Purchase tickets! Use the "Purchase Tickets" button below they are limited, so be sure to get yours today, you don’t want to miss this event!
Time/Date: Friday, March 9th, 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM, with cocktail hr starting at 6pm, Show starts at 7pm.
Presented by: GOAL and Massachusetts Women Gun Owners
Cost: $45/ticket before Feb. 18th, after that $56/person
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GOAL Annual Meeting of the Membership
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GOAL Annual Meeting - Sunday, January 28, 2018
Please note, ticket sales for this event have closed. There are no tickets available for this meeting at the door. You will not be admitted without a pre-purchased ticket.
Thank you for understanding - to those who purchased tickets, thank you! We will see you there!
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LEASH & WASTE DISPOSAL REGULATIONS PROPOSED
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Public Hearing February 6, 2018
MassWildlife is proposing leash and waste disposal regulations for dogs on Wildlife Management Areas. A public hearing has been scheduled for February 6, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough.
For more information on the proposal and how to provide comment on this regulation proposal,
click here.
The proposed regulations require leashing dogs and other domestic animals and picking up dog waste on WMAs. Leashing dogs decreases conflicts with both people and other dogs, resulting in a safer and more positive experience for everyone. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has a long tradition of welcoming dogs on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), and dogs are still welcome on WMAs under this proposal.
EXCEPTIONS FOR HUNTERS WITH HUNTING DOGS: Under this proposal, licensed hunters may have their dogs off-leash when hunting or hunt-training, or if they are participating in retriever or bird dog trial events permitted by MassWildlife. They are also exempt from the dog waste removal requirement.
MassWildlife is making this proposal due to repeated complaints from WMA users about negative and unsafe encounters with unleashed dogs and issues with dog waste. MassWildlife protects and manages these areas to sustain wildlife abundance and diversity and to provide wildlife-related recreation, including hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching, while at the same time providing a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors
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For more information visit:
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Club Events
- Leominster Sportsmen's Association- Winter Rifle Matches: Sunday mornings 9-11am, December through the end of March. It's any rifle/any sights or scope, 20 shots in 20 minutes standing at 100 yards, in our nice, heated range house, costs $5. Come on down - this is a great way to improve your marksmanship skills! You can get a nice breakfast in the clubhouse for ~$6-7 too! www.lsa-ma.org
- Woburn Sportsmen's Association - November through March WSA High Power hosts an Indoor/Outdoor rifle match every Sunday. Open to everyone for a $5.00 entry fee. Shooting starts @ 10:00am from inside the High Power house, out the windows. 200 Yards offhand (standing). Slow Fire loading only one round at a time; shooter will fire 20 rounds in 20 minutes, no sighters. Targets are then retrieved and scores are recorded. Equipment: any rifle, any sight, including any scope any magnification. Contact highpower@woburnsportsmen.com for any questions.
- Franklin County Sportsmen Club Robert Vogel, IDPA US and World champion will be hosting a two day IDPA pistol skills course on April 30, March 1, 2018. There is only a limited number of slots available. Cost is $900. Course information can be found at WWW.FCLSC.org. To register contact Doug Blowers at dblowers@scapesbuilders.com.
- Petersham gun club sporting clays course is open EVERY WEDNESDAY all year at 12 noon, and EVERY SUNDAY starting at 10am. we also have Trap open every friday at 6:30 PM.
- Fall River Rod & Gun Club has ongoing open to the public events - check their calendar for more info!]
- Norco Sportsman's Club has ongoing open to the public events - check their calendar for more info!]
- Wrentham Sportsman's Club - shoot schedule - all begin at 1:00 PM - $20 entry fee. 1/14 Pistol rim-fire, 1/28 Pistol center-fire.
- Lowell Sportsmen's Club - Trap and Skeet every Sunday at 1pm and Wednesday at 10am; all-ages Archery every Thursday night at 6:30pm; Indoor Range Fun Shoot every Friday at 7pm. Visit http://www.lowellsc.org for more information.
- The Haverhill Hound Rod and Gun Club has lots of events, shoots and activities - All Leagues and HHRG club events are open to the public: Check out our Public Event Calendar
- Uxbridge Rod & Gun Club – Sunday Morning Trap - 10:00 AM start time, runs year round, join in for a great time! 560 West St, Uxbridge MA 01569 Art Campbell 512-963-6053
- High Power Rifle Shooting, at Reading Rifle and Revolver - the ONLY 600 yard range in Massachusetts has a full schedule for both "Across the Course" NRA and CMP matches as well as NRA "Mid-Range Prone" matches, for the 2017 season. You don't need to be a member to participate in the matches.Go to: http://readinghighpower.com/ for complete schedule and match results. If you have questions please contact the High Power Director at, Charlie@trickettwoodworks.com
If your club has an open to the public event you would like to promote, please email the info to
mike@goal.org
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GOAL
361 W. Main St
Northborough, MA. 01532
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