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Hunters urge repeal of nonresident ban on semiautomatic firearms for hunting
Summary
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and local hunting organizations asked the committee to lift a ban on nonresident use of semiautomatic firearms for hunting, saying it discourages participation in conservation programs and displaces veterans' events.
Christopher Todd, volunteer chapter leader for the New England chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, told the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that H.2710 and S.1676 would remove an unnecessary barrier to hunting participation and bolster conservation and veterans' outreach.
Todd said the ban on nonresident use of semiautomatic firearms had forced organizers to relocate a Northeast veterans' camp from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, reducing local economic activity and eliminating a conservation‑oriented event for veterans. "This ban creates confusion, discourages participation in our hunting heritage, and undermines the economic and social benefits of outdoor recreation," he said.
The testifier asked the committee to restore fairness for nonresidents and returning residents who grew up in Massachusetts but now live elsewhere, and to support programs that introduce veterans and military families to hunting and conservation stewardship.
Committee members heard this testimony without immediate action; the bills remain before the committee for further consideration.
