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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 307 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2375
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joseph D. McKenna
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to access to constitutional rights.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/11/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 307 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2375
By Representative McKenna of Webster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2375) of
Joseph D. McKenna relative to the issuance of licenses for firearms. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2500 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to access to constitutional rights.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
ensure timely constitutional access to acquire a firearms identification card or a license to carry
firearms, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 129B of Chapter 140 of the General Laws are hereby amended in
2section (2) by deleting the words “provided, however, that the taking of fingerprints shall not be
3required in issuing the renewal of a card if the renewal applicant's fingerprints are on file with
4the department of state police” and inserting in place thereof the following; “provided, however,
5that the taking of fingerprints shall not be required in issuing or renewing a card if the applicant's
6fingerprints are on file with the department of state police or if such situation deemed reasonable 2 of 2
7by the licensing authority or the Executive Office of Public Safety shall prevent such fingerprints
8from being collected.”
9 SECTION 2. Section 129B of Chapter 140 of the General Laws are hereby amended in
10section (7) by deleting the word “, fingerprint”
11 SECTION 3. Section 131 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws are hereby amended in
12section (e) in line 8 by adding after the word “firearms” the following: “,provided, however, that
13the taking of fingerprints shall not be required in issuing or renewing a card if such situation
14deemed reasonable by the licensing authority or the Executive Office of Public Safety shall
15prevent such fingerprints from being collected.”
16 SECTION 4. Section 131 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws are hereby amended in
17section (g) by deleting the word “, fingerprint”
18 SECTION 5. Section 131 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended in
19section (l) by deleting the words “The taking of fingerprints shall not be required in issuing the
20renewal of a license if the renewal applicant's fingerprints are on file with the department of the
21state police.” and inserting in place thereof the following; “The taking of fingerprints shall not be
22required in issuing or renewing a license if the applicant's fingerprints are on file with the
23department of the state police, or if such situation deemed reasonable by the licensing authority
24or the Executive Office of Public Safety shall prevent such fingerprints from being collected.”