Governor Maura Healey signed House Bill 4885 on March 1, creating an online registry that forces every Massachusetts gun owner to log weapons that have not yet been recorded by October 28, 2026. The new system also imposes stricter serial‑number rules, bans unregistered ghost guns, and expands mandatory safety training, a change that state police say will curb illegal trafficking.
Opponents, including the Civil Rights Coalition, argue the six‑day window before Election Day is too short and that the bill’s definitions could criminalize law‑abiding citizens. They have collected more than 15,000 signatures to place Question 9 on the November 3 vote, where a 'no' would repeal the entire law, but would not erase violations committed during its enforcement.
Meanwhile, in Idaho, voters will choose an official state firearm from six historic models in a non‑binding referendum that passed unanimously in the legislature and was signed by Governor Brad Little. Rep. Jason Monks, who sponsored the bill, says the choice honors the state’s frontier heritage, though critics claim the measure should have been decided through a survey rather than a ballot.
The October 28 registration deadline is looming, and law‑enforcement agencies have already begun setting up kiosks across the state. The November 3 referendum will decide whether the new registration system remains, but any violation before the deadline will continue to carry criminal penalties.