index

Gun Store Owner Launches Effort to Suspend and Repeal Massachusetts' New Gun Law

GEAR CHECK: Our readers don't just follow the news - they stay ready. Featured gear from this story is below.

Staff Writer

A Massachusetts gun store owner is leading a campaign to collect signatures to suspend and potentially repeal a new gun law, which he claims infringes on Second Amendment rights, while supporters argue it's necessary for public safety.

A Cape Cod gun store owner is leading a campaign to collect tens of thousands of signatures by early October to suspend the enforcement of a new, wide-ranging gun law in Massachusetts, with the ultimate goal of repealing the measure. Toby Leary, co-founder of Cape Gun Works, filed paperwork Monday to set up "The Civil Rights Coalition," which will solicit donations for the multi-year battle against the law.

The law, signed by Gov. Maura Healey in July, bars people under 21 from owning semiautomatic rifles or shotguns, requires live fire training for prospective gun owners, and takes aim at "ghost guns" by requiring serialization of all firearms. Opponents argue it infringes on Second Amendment rights, while supporters say it's intended to keep the public safe.

Leary's group faces an Oct. 9 deadline to submit over 49,000 signatures to put the statute on hold and place a referendum question on the November 2026 ballot. However, Healey could potentially upend the process by adding an "emergency preamble" to the statute, which would void a voter-approved suspension.

Leary has secured donation pledges from multiple gun stores and reached out to national figures for help. He believes the campaign could be expensive, but is necessary to protect gun rights. Rep. Michael Day, a chief architect of the law, described the repeal effort as led by "extreme groups" and maintained that the statute is constitutional and sensible gun control.

You may also like

Blog

Former NY police officer Nicholas Tartaglione receives four consecutive life sentences for the 2016 kidnapping and murder of four men.
An Innsbruck court convicted a climber of manslaughter for leaving his partner exposed near Grossglockner, where she died of cold, giving him a suspended sentence and fine.
New York City’s decision not to renew a lease with an Israeli-linked drone manufacturer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard has ignited a fierce political and cultural clash, raising questions about public policy, economic priorities and antisemitism in municipal governance. The controversy underscores broader tensions in NYC’s political landscape under newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
A partial U.S. government shutdown centered on funding for the Department of Homeland Security has stymied negotiations in Washington, leaving many federal functions in limbo and frontline workers operating without guaranteed pay. Even as most federal operations remain funded throughout the fiscal year, the impasse has highlighted deep political divides and tangible disruptions in services and workforce morale.
Spain plans a criminal probe into X, Meta and TikTok over allegations their AI tools enabled creation and spread of child sexual abuse material.

Like This Story? Check Out What Our Community Is Buying

Our best sellers are designed for real-world use - not hype.

View Best Sellers