Bill > H1318

This bill, titled "Increasing penalties for felons in possession of firearms in the Commonwealth," proposes to amend Section 10 of Chapter 269 of the General Laws in Massachusetts. Specifically, it adds a new provision that significantly increases penalties for individuals who have previously been convicted of a crime punishable by 10 years or more in prison and are subsequently found to have committed an offense related to firearm possession, as outlined in paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of that section. Under this new provision, such individuals will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in state prison. Furthermore, this sentence cannot be reduced, suspended, or eligible for probation, parole, work release, or furlough, and no good conduct deductions will be applied until the full sentence is served. Limited exceptions for temporary release are allowed only for specific urgent circumstances like attending a relative's funeral, visiting a critically ill relative, or obtaining emergency medical or psychiatric services unavailable at the correctional institution, and these releases must be recommended by the institution's head and carried out in the custody of an officer. Finally, prosecutions under this new subsection cannot be continued without a finding or placed on file, meaning they must be resolved with a conviction or dismissal.