Politics

NRA says it’s suing over new Mass. gun law targeting ‘ghost guns’

The NRA's lobbying arm thanked a "bipartisan group" of lawmakers who opposed the bill, but only eight state Democrats crossed the aisle to vote.

A machine gun conversion device for a Glock hand gun was in custody of the ATF Boston Bureau. The device can convert the Glock into a machine gun after the “switch” is installed. It can be printed on a 3-d printer. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

By Molly Farrar

The National Rifle Association’s lobbying arm said it will challenge the new gun reform bill Governor Maura Healey signed into law last week, which the group called “one of the most extreme gun control bills in the country.”

The law strengthens oversight on “ghost guns” — homemade, unserialized firearms that are untraceable, and guns made with a 3D printer. The law also expands Massachusetts’s red flag law, allowing family members, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and licensing authorities to petition to suspend a person’s right to carry a gun.

Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Randy Kozuch said the NRA “will be challenging this law to restore the rights guaranteed to Bay Staters by the U.S. Constitution.”

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“With Governor Healey’s signature, Massachusetts has enacted one of the most egregious and freedom-restricting laws in the history of the Commonwealth,” Kozuch said in a statement. “We are thankful for the bipartisan group of legislators who stood against gun registries and the banning of commonly owned firearms and standard magazines.”

A spokesperson for Healey said in a statement to Boston.com that Healey has experience with the NRA.

“Governor Healey is a former Attorney General with a record of successfully defeating the NRA’s attempts to undermine our state’s strong gun laws,” spokesperson Karissa Hand said. “Our administration is confident in the legality of this legislation and will strongly oppose any attempts to weaken community safety.”

The measure passed handily in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate, but some Democrats crossed the aisle to oppose the measure. The bill passed in the Senate 35-5, where state Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton joined the four Republicans to oppose it.

In the House, Representatives Colleen Garry of Dracut, Patricia Haddad of Somerset, Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston, David Robertson of Tewksbury, Alan Silvia of Fall River, Jeffrey Turco of Winthrop, and Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner all voted against the bill. The House passed the gun reform bill 124-33.

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The “act modernizing firearms laws” will also revamp the application process for a license to carry, expand the definition of “assault weapons,” and criminalize the possession of firearms in government buildings, courts, and election and polling areas, Healey announced. 

Healey also targeted gun modifications and imposed strict penalties for devices such as Glock switches, which turn a legal firearm into a fully automatic weapon.

“Massachusetts is proud of our strong gun laws, but there is always more work to be done to keep our communities safe from violence,” Healey said in a statement last week. “This law will save lives, and I’m grateful to the Legislature and gun safety advocates for their hard work to see this through.”

This article has been updated to include a comment from Governor Maura Healey.