Blue State’s Firearm Rule Is So Onerous It Restricts Self-Defense Even When It’s Not a Gun

It's probably not wholly surprising that Massachusetts, one of the bluest states in the country, has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation.

But what might come as a surprise is that the Bay State also strictly controls sales of pepper spray and mace.

A Brazilian military police officer uses pepper spray on a protester during a demonstration on Sept. 7, 2013. (AP/Eraldo Peres)

Currently, a Massachusetts resident looking to buy pepper spray or mace must have a state-issued firearms identification card, the same as someone who is buying a gun.

But state legislators from both parties want to change that. At least five bills have been introduced to block some of the onerous red tape currently required, including the background checks and ID requirements.

Massachusetts is the only state in the country that imposes the firearms ID card restriction for the non-lethal, eye burning defense sprays, according to the Gun Owners Action League, an NRA affiliate in Massachusetts.

Democratic state Rep. Colleen Garry sponsored one of the bills, recalling a personal experience she had, the Fitchburg, Mass., Sentinel & Enterprise reported. She got a license, but didn’t think it’s necessary.

“I had a situation in my own life that I thought my family members were at risk," she said. "I did not want to get a gun, but I wanted to be able to protect them.”

The newspaper reported that the string of bills comes amid other efforts to strengthen background checks for guns.

Another bill in the legislature, filed by Republican state Rep. Kimberly Ferguson has more than two dozen co-sponsors.

Thus far, there hasn’t been much vocal opposition to lifting the restrictions. However, according to the Gun Owners Action League, such legislation was introduced last year and the legislature continues to “drag their feet on legalizing pepper spray” this year.

The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association backs the idea of making mace and pepper spray easier to obtain.

(H/T: Sentinel & Enterprise)