BOSTON — The state Senate’s GOP minority leader is pushing back against criticism from within his own party over his support for a Democratic-backed gun control bill.
Gloucester Republican Bruce Tarr was the only member of the Senate’s Republican minority caucus who voted with Democrats on Thursday to approve legislation calling for updating the state’s ban on “assault” weapons and setting new restrictions on the open carry of firearms in “sensitive” areas.
Tarr’s support for the measure, which passed on a 37-3 vote, raised eyebrows on Beacon Hill because it was the first time in recent history a Republican leader has supported a gun control bill, and because the other three GOP lawmakers under his leadership voted against it.
The veteran lawmaker, who is serving his seventh term as the chamber’s minority leader, defended his vote for the gun control package. In a statement, he noted that the Senate bill was a “narrower and reformed version” of a previously approved House bill and was supported by a police chiefs association.
“I was able to work with my colleagues to further reform the bill through the adoption of several important changes to the legislation, including the ‘grandfather’ clause to protect lawful gun owners, and other amendments that focus on punishing those who break the law — while protecting those who abide by it, Tarr said.
“Throughout all of the process that remains, I will continue to work to ensure that public safety is our top priority, and that we seek to strengthen it without infringing on the rights of safe, responsible gun owners and sportsmen,” he added.
Diehl takes aim at Tarr
But his explanation didn’t stop former GOP gubernatorial nominee Geoff Diehl, who is running for a Republican State Committee seat, from blasting Tarr for siding with Democrats on the gun control bill.
“With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?” quipped Diehl, a Whitman conservative and former GOP lawmaker, in a fundraising pitch to supporters.
Diehl’s fundraising email mentioned his wife, Kathy Joe Boss — who is also running for a GOP state committee seat — and had photos of his two daughters firing rifles at a gun range. He praised the Senate’s three other Republicans for voting against what he described as a “horrible” bill.
“Enough is enough,” Diehl wrote. “We need more Republican Senators and Representatives, ones who will vote Republican on issues, unlike many of our current elected officials like Senator Bruce Tarr.”
Tarr fired back at Diehl’s criticism, noting that as a “gun owner and sportsman” he understands the “concerns that many have about legislation on Beacon Hill that would impact the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”
“The legislative process is long and still developing, and it is deeply disappointing that someone would try to oversimplify the process for personal fundraising purposes and attack a fellow Republican at the same time,” he said. “My public service is focused on final outcomes that are fair and respect the rights of everyone involved, and that is how I will continue to treat this bill.”
What’s next
To be sure, Massachusetts already has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country, including a “red-flag” law allowing firearm seizures, real-time license background checks for private gun sales and stiff penalties for gun crimes.
But gun control advocates and Democrats pushing for the changes argue that a recent Supreme Court ruling has weakened the state’s firearm protection laws while the advent of “ghost guns” is circumventing the state’s firearm restrictions.
Second Amendment groups argue that tougher gun control laws are unnecessary, and punish law-abiding gun owners while sidestepping the issue of illegal firearms and mental health.
The Senate’s approval of the bill follows passage of a similar gun control package by the House of Representatives, which was approved in October on a largely party-line vote over the objections of all of the chamber’s GOP lawmakers.
Differences between the House and Senate bills will need to be worked out by a yet-to-be-appointed six-member conference committee before a final version of the bill heads to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk for consideration.
Angus McQuilken, a longtime gun control advocate, praised Tarr’s support for the Senate’s proposal and said the rare bipartisan support is a significant development in the debate over toughening the state’s firearm laws.
“It shows a growing consensus in both parties that the gun laws in Massachusetts work,” said McQuilken, of Marblehead. “What we have now is an emerging and bipartisan consensus in our Legislature that we want to continue to lead the nation, that these laws work, and that we need to update them from time to time to be sure they continue to address challenges of gun violence.”
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com