Governor Maura Healy has signed the "An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws" otherwise known as the H.4885 bill, into law on Thursday. Massachusetts is known for having very strict gun laws, some of the toughest in the country. With that comes some of the lowest gun violence rates in America.

Mass. Governor Signs New Law Banning Additional Guns

Massachusetts expands the definition of "assault weapons".

To better protect Massachusetts communities from dangerous weapons, the legislation updates the state’s assault weapons ban by expanding the definition of “assault weapons” to include known assault weapons and other weapons that function like them with respect to certain features.

It also prohibits possession, transfer, or sale of “assault-style” firearms or a large capacity feeding devices. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the issuance of a license to carry a machine gun except for firearms instructors and bona fide collectors and criminalizes the possession of parts that are intended to make weapons more lethal by adding them to the machine gun statute.

This includes automatic parts, bump stocks, rapid-fire trigger activators, and trigger modifiers. The legislation also seeks to further enhance safety in public spaces by criminalizing possession of a firearm in government buildings, courts, and election/polling areas.  -mass.gov

This was a very polarizing bill which garnered no Massachusetts Republican signatures, Healey said this new law "will save lives".

The new updated Massachusetts gun law will also expand the commonwealth's red flag law which allows law enforcement to remove firearms from licensed residents who are dealing with mental health challenges.

Cracking down on ghost guns, or guns made at home without serial numbers was a major part of this law as well.

It cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, which I have long advocated for, enhances our ability to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands, and invests in our communities to address the root causes of violence. This law will save lives, and I’m grateful to the Legislature and gun safety advocates for their hard work to see this through. Gov. Maura Healey