Thank you for your advocacy as we work towards successful passage of a firearms safety bill this session. As you know, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed different versions of firearms bills: H.4139, An Act modernizing firearm laws in October and S.2572, An Act to sensibly address firearm violence through effective reform, the SAFER Act, in February. 

A conference committee of three representatives and three senators has been appointed to iron out the differences between the two bills: Senator Cindy Creem, Representative Michael Day, Senator Joan Lovely, Senator Bruce Tarr, Representative Carlos Gonzalez and Representative Joseph McKenna. Read our letter to the conference committee.

Now we must act to ensure firearms are permanently prohibited at polling locations by asking our own legislators to contact the conference committee members on the following issues:



1. The House bill explicitly prohibits firearms at polling locations. The Senate bill does not because firearms are currently prohibited in schools and municipal buildings. However, 438 of the 2,387 polling stations in Massachusetts, or 18.3%, are not located in schools or municipal buildings. They are located within houses of worship, elderly housing, social clubs, even grocery stores, and more. 
2. The Senate bill offers municipalities the option to allow licensed gun owners to carry firearms in municipal government buildings.

Please call or email your state senator and state representative TODAY using the sample script below, and urge them to contact the members of the conference committee to ensure firearms are prohibited from polling locations.** Find them here. 

Suggested script: 

“Dear Rep. _____/Sen. ______:

Thank you for your commitment to passage of gun safety reforms in the Commonwealth. 

The League of Women Voters believes the presence of firearms during any stage of the democratic process is an inherent threat to public safety. Voters must be assured that when they cast their ballot, they can do so safely without the threat of gun violence. 

Please contact members of the firearms conference committee and urge them to 1) include the House provision explicitly banning firearms from all polling locations and 2) drop the Senate provision of offering municipalities the option to allow licensed gun owners to carry firearms in municipal government buildings. 

The Commonwealth is entrusted to protect the health and safety of all residents in 351 cities and towns not only on election day but every day. Please ask your colleagues to include these recommendations within the final conference committee report.

Sincerely,

Your complete name and full street address 

Feel free to personalize your email by adding why these issues are important to you. 



We encourage all League members to contact their legislators today and to share the action with their personal networks. 

**If your legislator is one of the six members of the conference committee listed above, substitute this paragraph as the third paragraph in your email:

I urge you, as a member of the firearms conference committee, to 1) include the House provision explicitly banning firearms from all polling locations and 2) drop the Senate provision of offering municipalities the option to allow licensed gun owners to carry firearms in municipal government buildings. 

When the conference committee issues a final report, it will be voted upon in each chamber. Then it will head to Governor Healey’s desk for her signature by the end of the formal session on July 31.

Questions? Email [email protected].