PA Bill Number: HR541
Title: Recognizing the month of October 2024 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
Description: A Resolution recognizing the month of October 2024 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
Last Action:
Last Action Date: Sep 27, 2024
Boston Herald: Maura Healey shoots Dems in foot with gun grab :: 08/29/2016
Attorney General Maura Healey’s controversial assault weapons crackdown has become yet another political land mine threatening the Bay State’s already shaken Democratic Party as it seeks to mount a serious 2018 challenger against Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.
In deeply blue Massachusetts, the Democratic Party is turning into its own worst enemy.
“There are a lot of Democrats who aren’t happy with her decision, but they don’t want to come out against one of the party leaders,” said state Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), one of 58 lawmakers who signed onto a letter opposing Healey’s ban.
In July, Healey announced a ban on so-called “copycat” assault weapon models. The so-called “Massachusetts legal” guns were modified to comply with the state assault weapons ban — with no collapsible stocks, high-capacity magazines or other banned features — but they still look like the AR-15 and AK-47, and Healey said that is impermissible. Other semi-automatic rifles that perform the same, but don’t have a military appearance, are still legally sold in Massachusetts gun shops.
Legislators on both sides of the aisle blasted Healey’s move as a confusing overreach meant to pump up Healey’s political profile.
“I absolutely think this is 
politically motivated,” said Garry. The Massachusetts congressional delegation backed Healey and supporters have pushed a #standwithmaura hashtag on Twitter. “She was looking to make news with the timing of this coming right around the Republican 
National Convention.”
Healey has even faced pushback from progressive leaders like state Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg (D-Amherst), who told Boston Herald Radio earlier this month that Healey should have allowed members of the public to weigh in on the move.
Democratic Party committee member and Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff sparked further fireworks, blasting state party leaders for dragging their feet before supporting Healey and for missing opportunities to hit Baker.
“There is no leadership from our state party. That’s just the truth,” said Duff about the Democrats. “We need to change, we need leadership, we need courage and we need energy. We cannot take for granted that this is a blue state because it’s not.”
The internal backbiting comes as Democrats have also sparred over charter schools and even elections as progressive supporters of failed presidential candidate Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders seek to flex their muscle under the Golden Dome.
Meanwhile, Democrats are scrambling to find a strong challenger to Baker, who won over much of Beacon Hill’s Democratic leadership. Healey recently 
announced that she won’t challenge Baker in the 2018 election, leaving a dearth of strong candidates — though she has plenty of time to reverse that if she senses an opportunity.
State Democratic Party Executive Director Jay Cincotti meanwhile downplayed the intraparty fighting.
“I think our Democratic Party has always united and come together,” he said.
