GOAL's Massachusetts Candidate Questionnaire

FIREARMS RIGHTS

1. Do you believe that individual law abiding Massachusetts citizens should have the right to keep and bear firearms?

2. Do you believe that an individual has the right to use deadly force in defending his or her family and/or home from:

FIREARMS IN THE HOME

3. Current state law requires all guns to be stored or kept in a locked container or with a mechanical locking device. Current state law further requires all handguns and large capacity guns to be sold with an approved mechanical locking device.

Do you believe this statute be amended to exempt so-called primitive firearms, that is black powder muskets of the 18th and 19th century?

Do you think gun owners should be required to keep all guns locked up in their own home, even if there are no children in the home?

What penalty for violating such a requirement do you feel would be appropriate?

Do you believe that a citizen ought to be able to possess a handgun in their home or place of business without a License to Carry Firearms?

FIREARMS OWNERSHIP

For which of the following reasons would you support firearms ownership?

Chapter 189 of the Acts of 1992 declared the names and addresses of license to carry firearms identification card holders are not a matter of public record. However, the Criminal History Systems Board has since computerized this information, and has made it readily available through the CHS and other electronic systems which are accessible by government employees outside of law enforcement. Additionally, many local communities have added information on license holders to their enhanced 911 system.

Do you think the Criminal History Systems Board and local law enforcement are violating the law by making this confidential information so readily available?

Do you think the information should remain private?

Should the information be accessible to anyone outside the commonwealth?

7. Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998 made changes to the issuance procedure for a License to Carry Firearms. The new law now excludes persons who have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor. (Under previous law, these persons could have been issued a license, and many currently own firearms.) Do you think misdemeanor convictions should prevent a person from getting a License to Carry Firearms?

8. Some localities in Massachusetts have considered ordinances regulating gun ownership which is more restrictive than state laws. Would you support legislation allowing the state to "preempt" the field of firearms laws, thus providing a uniform code of laws across the state?

9. Do you believe that any entity other than the legislature has the authority to regulate firearms ownership in Massachusetts?

10. Current state law bans so-called covert guns, that is guns which do not look like guns. For all other guns, a person must have a license or card in order to purchase and posses handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Licenses and cards are issues only after a background check verifies that a person has never been convicted of a felony, a violent crime, or a misdemeanor punishable by more than two years imprisonment, that the applicant is not mentally ill, and is of good character. Given these strict criteria, do you support legislation banning the lawful manufacture, sale, and transfer of:

FIREARMS APPLICATION PROCESS:

11. Currently, the state has chosen to keep all records on licensed gun owners in the criminal history systems board where criminal records are stored. Opponents have likened this to keeping records of marriage license applicants in a restraining orders database.

Do you believe the criminal history systems board is an appropriate place to keep track of who is licensed?

12. Licenses to Carry Firearms are issued only after a background check verifies that a person has never been convicted of a felony, a violent crime, or a misdemeanor punishable by more than two year imprisonment, and that the applicant is not mentally ill. Beyond that, the chief of police is given the power to decide who is to be licensed, with minimal guidelines. If refused, a citizen's only recourse is to turn to a district court. Many district courts are reluctant to overturn the chief's decisions, simply agreeing he has the discretion to choose to issue the license or not.

Would you support the creation of a firearms license examiners board (similar to the system used by other states) to review whether or not license denials were just? Elsewhere the boards have quasi-judicial authority, yet relieve court backlogs and do not necessitate the fees associated with court proceedings.

Under Massachusetts law, licenses to carry firearms are issued by local law enforcement officials who are allowed to place any "restrictions on the possession use and carrying of guns" that they deem proper.

Given that licenses are only issued to persons who pass a background check, do you believe the chief should be picking and choosing which law abiding citizens can use firearms for personal protection?

Would you support legislation to reimburse court costs for law-abiding citizens whom the courts decide were improperly denied a license to carry?

14. Since 1968, state and federal law has required that dealers and/or private citizens must report to the state certain information on all ling gun sales/purchases. Since 1934, state and federal law have required the same information of all long handgun sales/purchases. However, many Massachusetts gun owners were unaware that purchases made through out of state dealers had not been registered with the Commonwealth.

Do you believe the state should declare an amnesty period to allow these guns to be registered without fear of punishment?

Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998 created a new licensing structure. Purchase and possession of any "large capacity" semi-automatic rifle or shotgun would now require a handgun license. Do you believe this switch in licensing structure makes sense?

15. Chapter 180 also created two kinds of handgun licenses. Class A Licenses to Carry Firearms are the only licenses which cover purchase and possession of all handguns, rifles and shotguns, including large capacity handguns. Class B Licenses to Carry Firearms will not allow the possession of large capacity handguns, nor allow the holder to carry a gun for personal protection. This class system allows the chief to control what types of guns a citizen may own and where they may be carried. Given that the issuing criteria for Class A and Class B licenses are exactly the same, do you believe that an unelected official (i.e. police chief_) should be deciding which citizens in his town can own or carry certain guns?

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

16. Which of the following choices best describes your attitude toward hunting as a sport?

17. Our state's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife budget is supported solely by sportsmen, through license sales and taxes on the manufacture of guns and ammunition. Sportsmen therefore pay for protecting all wildlife, even non-game. In 1946, the state legislature established the Fisheries and Wildlife Board to oversee the work of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; regulate hunting, fishing, and trapping; and supervise the Division budget. The Board has directed the Division with great success in restoring wildlife. Many people attribute this success to the apolitical composition of the board. However, passage of Question 1 in 1996 began a change in make up of the Board allowing non-professionals to be appointed. The change also impacts the financial resources to support the Division programs.

Would you support or oppose legislation to take proportionate amounts of money from the General Fund to defray the cost of public programs to enhance wildlife and/or its habitat?

18. Would you oppose or support changes in our present system of wildlife management?

19. Massachusetts citizens voted to pass Question 1 in 1996, banning virtually all trapping. The beaver population in the state has therefore begun to explode. Many towns are facing budget problems as they deal with repairs to flooded roads and culverts as a direct result of beaver over-population.

Would you support or oppose legislation to take proportionate amounts of money from the General Fund to defray the cost of repairing beaver damage?

GENERAL

20. Are you now, or have you ever been a member of Gun Owners' Action League, a local sportsman's club or any other firearms associations?

21. Gun Owners' Action League offers candidates the opportunity to have a statement printed in our monthly paper, The Message, which is sent to all our members. There is no charge for this service. use the space below to submit your statement, or attach a separate sheet. Your statement should be limited to one double spaced page in length, and must address how you feel about the private ownership of firearms.

Douglas L. Krick, Libertarian Candidate for State Representative in the 14th Middlesex District

I am relatively new participant in the world of politics, having been inspired by the Libertarian campaign of Dean Cook for Governor. I believe the need for a third party is greater than ever, because the Republican Party and Democratic Party have been chipping away at the Bill of Rights. Therefore, I decided to run for State Representative.

I have never owned a firearm, as I have never felt the need to have one around; however, I do enjoy using them, and if I had the surplus time and money, I probably would make the investment.

My first exposure to firearms was at Boy Scout camp, where I shot a .22 rifle. Later, I obtained a Firearm Owners' Identification Card in my birth state of Illinois, and subsequently have learned to handle and use handguns.

The reasoning behind the 2nd amendment is clear- it is to protect the citizenry from tyranny. Any time the government wishes to control its citizenry, one of the first rights that people lose is the right to bear personal firearms. I am tired of the government attempting to control my life, so I am trying to fight back. To use an anonymous quote, "There are four boxes in the defense of liberty. Soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Use in that order." I believe we can restore liberty in this county through the judicious use of the soap, ballot, and jury boxes.

I invite you to examine my web-site at http://www.lpma.org/krick, or to write me at doug.krick@lpma.org, and I ask you for your support. Thank you.

Rating from goal: Good! (This is their highest rating for a non-incumbant.)

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