BOSTON — Gun rights advocates are planning to gather outside the Statehouse to protest a new crackdown on assault weapons after a new push by the attorney general to stop assault weapon sales.
AG Maura Healey announced plans to end the sale of assault weapons in Massachusetts Wednesday, and by Thursday sales spiked ahead of the crackdown.
Gun shop owners and gun dealers tell FOX25 they were blindsided by this and that they rely on sales of assault rifles to keep their businesses afloat.
The owner of Norwood Armory told FOX25 that the shelves were fully stocked with AR-15s and other semiautomatic weapons two days ago, but now the store is completely sold out.
In Wrentham, the owner of Gartman Arms said there were customers in the store until 3 a.m. Thursday to buy semiautomatic rifles.
While the rush is a short term bump for dealers, shop owners said they stand to lose at least 25-percent of their overall business because of the ban.
Some customers told FOX25 they are still trying to buy AR-15-type guns.
"I work down the street. I came here as soon as I head. I figured I’d get one, I know it’s illegal already,” one unidentified man said.
Healey said this isn’t a new law or regulation, just increased enforcement of an existing law.
Cox Media Group
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