A new report released Monday by a Massachusetts task force issued 44 recommendations to toughen gun control laws in the state.
The task force was formed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
One recommendation was for a uniform set of gun licensing requirements. Right now, permitting rules are different from town to town.
Another recommendation was for all gun sales between private parties and at gun shows to go through licensed dealers, so they can run background checks.
The panel rejected Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s proposal to limit purchasers to one gun per month. David Hemenway is a Harvard economist and member of the task force:
“Who needs one gun per month laws are states which export crime guns and that is not Massachusetts. We are an importer of crime guns,” Hemenway said.
Jim Wallace, of the Gun Owners Action League, denounced the report.
“In the report, it does not anywhere mention the abject failure of the Massachusetts gun laws to decrease crime."
House Speaker DeLeo said the recommendations will be the basis for new gun control legislation. He says the House will take up the bill by this summer.
