Gun rights advocates assembled in front of the State House on Saturday to protest after Attorney General Maura Healey said her office will crackdown on “copycat” assault weapons. [Photo: Antonio Caban/SHNS]
As the duck boat rolled up Beacon Street on Saturday morning people filled the sidewalks on both sides. The crowd cheered for former Patriots left tackle Matt Light, but the gathering wasn’t designed to celebrate another Pats Super Bowl win.
Instead, the group assembled on the front steps of the State House to protest what they said was a “sneak attack action” by Attorney General Maura Healey this week in announcing that her office will step up enforcement of the state’s assault weapons ban.
Healey this week announced she would crack down on enforcement of the state’s 1998 assault weapons ban, specifically focusing on what she called “copycat” version or duplicates of firearms that she said are banned under that law.
Saturday’s show of disapproval coincided with a Saturday session of the Legislature. With just over a week left until the end of formal sessions for the year, lawmakers were arriving on Beacon Hill to take care of budget veto overrides and other policy matters as the gun rights rally was getting underway.
A slew of Republican House members were at or on their way to the rally Saturday morning, including Reps. Elizabeth Poirier, Geoff Diehl, Marc Lombardo, Steven Howitt, Donald Wong, David Muradian and Angleo D’Emilia.
Light, an NFL Pro Bowler who retired in 2012, has visited the State House in the past to advocate for some of GOAL’s legislative initiatives, including Sunday hunting and issues related to bow hunting.
Gun rights advocates assembled in front of the State House on Saturday to protest after Attorney General Maura Healey said her office will crackdown on “copycat” assault weapons. [Photo: Antonio Caban/SHNS] 
