Massachusetts governor proposes new gun laws after Newtown
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick introduced a new series of gun laws on Wednesday that would tighten rules on sales of weapons and ammunition, in the wake of last month's deadly school shooting in neighboring Connecticut.
Patrick made the announcement a day after New York state adopted one of the toughest gun-control laws in the United States and as President Barack Obama unveils proposals expected to include a new national assault-weapons ban and strengthened background checks on prospective gun buyers. "In the wake of too many tragedies, I have filed legislation to tackle the problem of gun violence and illegal firearm possession," Patrick, a Democrat, said in a statement. He also proposed an increase in funding to the state's mental health programs aimed at reducing violence.
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The proposed Massachusetts legislation would require gun buyers to undergo background checks even when they made purchases at gun shows, limit buyers to purchasing one gun per month and create four new crimes including being a felon in possession of a firearm and commission of a violent misdemeanor while in possession of a firearm.
It would also require state courts to share relevant mental health records with state and criminal databases used to conduct background checks on potential gun buyers. Patrick, who will give his annual state-of-the-state address on Wednesday evening, said that the budget proposal he plans to make next week will include $5 million in new funding for state mental health programs aimed at training school staff on how to recognize symptoms of mental illness in students and to better train police officers to handle people with mental illness in crisis situations.
Democrats control both houses of the state legislature in the liberal-leaning state.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/us-usa-guns-massachusetts-idUSBRE90F13L20130116
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