Nineteen mayors from across the state have signed onto a letter voicing support for Attorney General Maura Healey’s efforts to crack down on the sale of what she has described as “copycat” assault weapons, a move that has drawn backlash from gun owners and some members of the state Legislature.
On July 20, Healey announced her office would step up enforcement of the state’s 1998 assault weapon ban to focus on copies or duplicates of banned guns like the AR-15 or AK-47. Healey said gun manufacturers make minor tweaks to forbidden guns to skirt the intent of the ban.
The attorney general’s action quickly generated protests from gun owners who said she was overstepping her authority.
In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, the mayors of Newton, Lawrence, North Adams, Holyoke, Medford, Newburyport and Salem said they stood by Healey’s enforcement and believed it could help prevent gun violence. Several of the mayors said they had not heard a negative response from gun owners in their cities.
“If anything, what I’ve been hearing from folks is that the attorney general is doing the right thing and enforcing the law,” Newton Mayor Setti Warren said.
