I looked for a state that's taking gun violence seriously. I found Massachusetts.


Massachusetts' strict gun-licensing laws make gun buyers jump through many hoops before they can buy and possess a firearm, part of a broader set of policies and factors that give the state the lowest gun death rate in the U.S. A permit-to-purchase law treats guns much like cars, with license and registration required. Police can deny gun permits even when applicants pass all background checks and meet other requirements. All guns, even those sold in private transactions, must be registered with the state and are subject to confiscation under the state's red-flag law for disarming dangerous people.

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