1976 Nov 2 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 5 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 3, 1976, by a vote of 197-35, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 5, 1976? See summary »

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Choices
 
Yes
 
 
No
 
 
Summary

The proposed legislation would prohibit the possession, ownership, or sale of any weapon from which a shot or bullet can be discharged and which has a barrel length of less than sixteen inches. The prohibition would not apply to military personnel, law enforcement officers, federally licensed handgun manufacturers and wholesalers, common carriers in the ordinary course of transport, or to historical societies and museums. The act would not affect the possession of rifles, shotguns, and certain antiques and replicas. The proposal also does not change the existing statutory penalties for unlawful possession, ownership or sale of handguns, including provision imposing mandatory jail sentences.

The proposal would permit owners of handguns to surrender their weapons to any law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth within six months of the effective date of the act without incurring criminal liability. Those surrendering handguns within that six months will be compensated at a rate to be determined by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

1976 Nov 2 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 5 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 3, 1976, by a vote of 197-35, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 5, 1976? See summary »

Ballot Question Results

View results as: # | %  
Ward
Yes
No
Blank Votes Total Votes Cast Total Ballots Cast
Totals
 
11,194
17,865
2,845
29,059
31,904
Precinct 1
 
199
401
61
600
661
Precinct 2
 
150
360
61
510
571
Precinct 3
 
208
417
59
625
684
Precinct 4
 
230
474
65
704
769
Precinct 5
 
222
324
58
546
604
Precinct 1
 
100
167
54
267
321
Precinct 2
 
328
384
74
712
786
Precinct 3
 
166
219
53
385
438
Precinct 4
 
197
548
95
745
840
Precinct 5
 
348
439
68
787
855
Precinct 6
 
207
315
52
522
574
Precinct 1
 
312
539
113
851
964
Precinct 2
 
316
473
96
789
885
Precinct 3
 
327
468
71
795
866
Precinct 4
 
330
486
64
816
880
Precinct 5
 
294
356
75
650
725
Precinct 1
 
320
529
86
849
935
Precinct 2
 
197
395
94
592
686
Precinct 3
 
351
546
61
897
958
Precinct 4
 
349
598
94
947
1,041
Precinct 5
 
285
576
113
861
974
Precinct 6
 
321
562
95
883
978
Precinct 1
 
244
496
65
740
805
Precinct 2
 
307
445
71
752
823
Precinct 3
 
306
482
51
788
839
Precinct 4
 
304
534
73
838
911
Precinct 5
 
233
456
61
689
750
Precinct 6
 
309
504
60
813
873
Precinct 1
 
311
557
66
868
934
Precinct 2
 
382
519
81
901
982
Precinct 3
 
329
460
68
789
857
Precinct 4
 
382
439
43
821
864
Precinct 5
 
277
393
47
670
717
Precinct 1
 
390
541
73
931
1,004
Precinct 2
 
310
548
93
858
951
Precinct 3
 
454
529
68
983
1,051
Precinct 4
 
516
784
178
1,300
1,478
Precinct 5
 
383
602
85
985
1,070
Totals
 
11,194
17,865
2,845
29,059
31,904