MassGOP Unhappy With Lack of Transparency In Gun Control Bill Push

Massachusetts legislators has from House and Senate have formed a conference committee to discuss pending gun legislation.

The committee, consisting of six legislators from both chambers, aims to reconcile the differences between H.4139 and Amendment S.2584.

Democratic leaders voted to move the hearing into “executive session,” excluding the public and the media from observing the legislative process.

Republican Conference Committee Members, state representative Joe McKenna (R-Webster) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), voted to keep the hearing open to the public.

“The legislation being taken up by the conference committee touches on constitutional rights and the important subject of public safety,” Tarr said, according to a press release from the Massachusetts Republican Party. “This legislation has already been through some parliamentary gymnastics, and it is crucial that future negotiations be given the open, transparent, and public debate that these important matters deserve.”

Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Amy Carnevale also derided the lack of transparency in the lawmaking process.

“The negotiations on pending gun legislation ought to be done in the public eye, not in back rooms,” Carnevale said in the written statement. “Aside from the troubling contents of this legislation, it is appalling that the Democratic Supermajority is seeking to shield these important discussions from the public. When debating legislation with considerable impact on the law-abiding sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts of the Commonwealth, it is imperative that we, the voters, have an idea of how our Senators and Representatives build such controversial and impactful legislation.”