Gun Store Owner Launches Effort to Suspend and Repeal Massachusetts' New Gun Law

A Cape Cod gun store owner is leading a campaign to collect tens of thousands of signatures by early October to suspend the enforcement of a new, wide-ranging gun law in Massachusetts, with the ultimate goal of repealing the measure. Toby Leary, co-founder of Cape Gun Works, filed paperwork Monday to set up "The Civil Rights Coalition," which will solicit donations for the multi-year battle against the law.

The law, signed by Gov. Maura Healey in July, bars people under 21 from owning semiautomatic rifles or shotguns, requires live fire training for prospective gun owners, and takes aim at "ghost guns" by requiring serialization of all firearms. Opponents argue it infringes on Second Amendment rights, while supporters say it's intended to keep the public safe.

Leary's group faces an Oct. 9 deadline to submit over 49,000 signatures to put the statute on hold and place a referendum question on the November 2026 ballot. However, Healey could potentially upend the process by adding an "emergency preamble" to the statute, which would void a voter-approved suspension.

Leary has secured donation pledges from multiple gun stores and reached out to national figures for help. He believes the campaign could be expensive, but is necessary to protect gun rights. Rep. Michael Day, a chief architect of the law, described the repeal effort as led by "extreme groups" and maintained that the statute is constitutional and sensible gun control.