I'm glad you practiced journalistic responsibility and didn't list names, addresses and maps to homes of law abiding citizens.

Frankly, I think the president has poked a stick into a hornets' nest. There is a lot of push back from red states... Kentucky being one, but there are others. I'm not a fan of guns, but I am a fan of the constitution. I think the time wasted trying to implement these proposals will not be worth the results accomplished. There will still be illegally owned guns in the hands of criminals. Chicago will not suddenly be safe.

CLASS “A” LTC: Permits the purchase, possession and carrying of all ammunition, handguns, rifles, shotguns and feeding devices (both large* and non-large capacity). This is the only license that allows the carrying of concealed handguns-either loaded or unloaded.
CLASS “B” LTC: Permits the purchase, possession and carrying of all ammunition, non-large capacity handguns, and all rifles and shotguns (large* and non-large capacity).
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION CARD (FID): Permits the purchase, possession and carrying of non-large capacity rifles, shotguns and ammunition only. Restricted FIDs are also available solely for the possession of mace or pepper spray. Applicants for the restricted FID are exempt from the education requirement.
*A large-capacity firearm is a semi-automatic handgun or rifle that is capable of accepting more than ten rounds, OR shotgun capable of accepting more than five shotgun shells, OR if it is an assault weapon. NOTE: A .22 caliber rifle with a fixed tubular magazine is not large capacity.

Also, No person shall be issued a license to carry or possess a machine gun in the commonwealth, except that a licensing authority or the colonel of state police may issue a machine gun license to:
(i) a firearm instructor certified by the municipal police training committee for the sole purpose of firearm instruction to police personnel;
(ii) a bona fide collector of firearms upon application or upon application for renewal of such license.

God bless the 2nd Amendment !

These politicians up here in the Northeast are just out to one up each other. Now I'm hearing the Gov here, not to be outdone by Cuomo, wants to impose a 7 round limit on mags. How ridiculous. MA already has tough gun laws, including background checks, fingerprinting, letters of reference, safety certification classes, etc., etc., and has a low gun crime rate. They don't need to do anything further than what they already have on the books ! All this is going to do is turn law-abiding citizens into instant criminals. Further, and trust me on this one, none of this will decrease the gun crime in Roxbury or Dorchester. What decreases the crime there is exactly what they just did ....diligently go after the real criminals.

It is good to know that I live in a city that has citizens intelligent enough to protect themselves, and politicians smart enough to not interfere with that right, a special thanks to the Chiefs and their staffs who work to make this possible, yea, I know they get paid, but everyone likes to know they are appreciated.

We should have tougher gun laws. It isn't enough.

Hi Mom, it is enough in Mass., see my comments above.

Anyone see any news about the rally's in Boston and across the country? Globe reported it as "hundreds" of people showed up Nationwide. Hundreds?? The Globe is misrepresenting this (I wonder why). There where THOUSANDS if not tens of thousands that participated across the country, including Boston and Providence. In Boston, there was a man from China showing his support, who witnessed the Tiananman Square uprising (Do you all remember that China had the nerve to "lecture" us recently on their opinion that America should ban guns?) Trust me, the safest place in Boston this afternoon was at that protest on Beacon Hill.
Here is the link to video of National Anthem sung at the demonstration, including the participant from China. Check out his sign. Looks more like 1000 people showed up just at Beacon Hill....
http://s44.beta.photobucket.com/user/terje201/media/2013-01-19_12-01-23_339.mp4.html

I notice that Obama surroundedhimself with children at his announcement, then read a letter supposedly written by a 7 year old. I wonder if he will repeat that performance when he gets to tax reform. I wonder what the 7 year olds will supposedly write about that.

About 25 years ago (not knowing the rules) I went to see the ATF about a machine gun license. They were astoundingly cordial. They brought out a picture book to show me what I should buy, and which ones not to avoid. I was invited to join them on one of their Sunday cruises in Boston Harbor when they shot up beer barrels (I am not making this up). I was also given to understand that, at the time, the license was granted by the local police chief, they only collected the $200 "transfer tax". It was really just a lark and I never followed through on it. I was sort of on a lark. The Mormon Church had just licensed manufacture of the American 180, a .22 machine gun. You could shoot that all afternoon for $40.00.

The back ground check needs to be cleaned up and enforced.too many loop holes between all the cities, towns and states that have their own versions of this part of the law.
And...
physicians need to sunlit concerns to a national data base with issues with some individuals being able to purchase a weapon.

And
All cities, town and states need to use a single national data back to perform background checks, just like they need to do with profiles.
All of this has notghing to do with restricting the rights of law abiding, sane, individuals.

Where exactly are these loopholes Steve in the current background check? As a person who has processed background checks as tasked by the licensing officer, I'd like to know what insight you have to these "loopholes". If you have any criminal background it will come up, you can't hide that. And as for a doctor's submitting information, how do we deal with a severely anti 2A medical professional, who could throw that power around quite effectively. Please, enlighten me on how things are so loose in this liberal state of Massachusetts.

B H O could not pass "a background check".