ARE YOU A ‘SUITABLE PERSON?’ Massachusetts H.4121 Would Gut The 2nd Amendment

Massachusetts H.4121 would allow state officials to arbitrarily and capriciously deny citizens the right to bear arms if they don’t meet the government’s idea of what constitutes a “suitable person” (our bold):

SECTION 19. Section 129B of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- (1) Any person residing or having a place of business within the jurisdiction of the licensing authority or any person residing in an area of exclusive federal jurisdiction located within a city or town may submit to the licensing authority an application for a firearm identification card, or renewal of the same, which the licensing authority may issue if it appears that the applicant is a suitable person to be issued a card and that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to his person or property, or for any other reason, including the carrying of firearms for use in sport or target practice only…

H.4121 leaves the defining of what constitutes a “suitable person” to the whims of the government of Massachusetts:

The executive office of public safety and security, with the advice and recommendations of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and the gun control advisory board, shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing uniform standards that specify, clarify or define what constitutes a suitable person for purposes of issuing a card pursuant to this paragraph.

This law would allow the state to arbitrarily deny the issuance of a firearm owner identification (FOID) card to Massachusetts citizens, regardless of whether or not they broke any laws, had a criminal record, or record of mental health problems.

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