Multiple civil rights groups from California to Illinois have just joined six New Hampshire state reps in an attempt to protect their citizens from what some call Massachusetts’ misapplication of gun laws. These challenges to the state’s firearms licensing scheme stem in part from the prosecution of two motorists, Dean Donnell and Philip Marquis, who were both charged with gun possession felonies for crossing state borders while otherwise legally armed in their home state of New Hampshire.
Their cases were initially dismissed by Judge John Coffey of the Lowell District Court in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 NYSRPA v. Bruen decision, but state prosecutors have appealed the dismissals, along with the similarly situated cases of at least five other people from New Hampshire.
We want to thank Dave Ridley for this Contribution. Submit yours to steve@granitegrok.com
This case is now before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”), with in-person Oral Arguments scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on September 9th. SJC hearings are open to the public and are scheduled for Courtroom 1 (Seven Justice Courtroom) on the second floor of the John Adams Courthouse. Oral arguments are expected to be streamed online at the above link.
You can find the amici briefs posted on the Mass. SJC website for Donnell (SJC-13561) and Marquis (SJC-13562)
Additional details and updates are available here.
Groups helping to defend the Second Amendment in Massachusetts:
- Six New Hampshire State Reps
- California Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc.
- Second Amendment Law Center, Inc.
- Gun Owners of America, Inc.
- Gun Owners of California, Inc.
- Gun Owners Foundation, Inc.
- Operation Blazing Sword, Inc. & Pink Pistols
- Second Amendment Defense and Education Coalition, Ltd.
- Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, Ltd.
Contact: libertywithoutlicense@gmail.com, 603-499-7919.
