House Speaker DeLeo Backing Effort to Tighten Access to Guns

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo says he’s hoping to revive a bill aimed at denying state gun licenses to anyone on a terrorist watch list or no-fly list.

DeLeo’s renewed interest in the stalled bill follows the June 12 shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 people dead.

Opponents of similar proposals argue that individuals can be erroneously placed on the lists.

DeLeo said Wednesday that individuals who think they’re on the lists in error should get a hearing.

The Winthrop Democrat points out that it could be problematic if the proposed state law conflicted with federal regulations. He didn’t say whether the proposal would be prohibited by federal law.

DeLeo says the bill would be a reasonable addition to the state’s already strict gun laws.