PitStop Mike Harris NRA AM 2026
Massachusetts gun rights advocate Mike Harris delivers a blistering critique of the state's 2024 omnibus gun bill—Chapter 135—calling it a political land grab disguised as reform. He reveals how the bill, passed under a wave of hyper-partisan rule suspension, gutted decades of gun ownership rights across the board, affecting everything from licensing to hunting. Despite mobilizing over 100,000 signatures to repeal it via referendum, Harris exposes the governor’s emergency declaration as a constitutional but cynical power play to block the vote. He recounts personal stories—from stolen family heirlooms to a surreal redneck hunting trip—that underscore the emotional and cultural stakes. The episode becomes a darkly comic indictment of anti-gun lawmakers who know nothing about firearms yet legislate with impunity, while mocking absurd terms like 'ghost guns' and 'easily convertible' as fearmongering. Harris ends with a rallying cry: the Gun Owners Action League is organizing the inaugural New England Firearms Advocacy Conference to unite state groups and fight back—not with rage, but with strategy and fun.
Massachusetts passed a 143-page omnibus gun bill (Chapter 135) in 2024 that changed 152 sections of firearms law in one sweeping, undemocratic move.
The bill was pushed through by suspending legislative rules six times, using a 'DeLorean' tactic to retroactively rewrite history and bury opposition.
Despite gathering 100,000+ repeal signatures—far exceeding the 62,000 needed—the governor declared an emergency, legally blocking the referendum until November.
Only 100,000 of 660,000 LTC holders in Massachusetts signed the petition, revealing a massive mobilization gap among gun owners who are reluctant to publicly advocate.
Lawmakers like Rep. Michael Day were openly influenced by Gabby Giffords’ visit and funding, with state officials admitting they had no understanding of basic license types.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the NRA Pit Stop in Houston
Charlie Cook opens the episode at the NRA annual meeting in Houston, Texas, welcoming listeners to a special 'pit stop' featuring guests from the 2A media community.
The Gun Show as a Strip Club Analogy
Mike Harris jokes that gun shows are like strip clubs—full of tempting items you can’t take home—highlighting the frustration of restricted access in Massachusetts.
Chapter 135: The 'Poop Show' of Gun Reform
“It's a freaking mess. Yes. So just so everybody knows, we had an omnibus bill pass two years ago in 2024 that changed the firearms-related statutes in Massachusetts from top to bottom.”
The Giffords-Backed Power Play
“Gabby Giffords comes and makes an appearance at Beacon Hill. And stands there for a photo op with him. And probably left him with a hefty check. And a nice big stack of paper.”
The Repeal Effort and the 100,000 Signature Milestone
“We only got 100,000 signatures. And I mean, we only have 25,000 members of Goal. And here's the funny thing.”
“I call it the Joe Biden special. The Joe Biden special. I told my wife, Jill, I said, Jill, just fire two blasts into the air. Yeah. And then when the cops come to arrest you... Right. I'll see you at jail.”
“Gabby Giffords comes and makes an appearance at Beacon Hill. And stands there for a photo op with him. And probably left him with a hefty check. And a nice big stack of paper.”
“So our opposition in the campaign effort is essentially state funded. Shocking. Yeah, by the AG. These assholes. I know. It's the worst.”
Host
Guest
Charlie Cook
person
Mike Harris
person
Gun Owners Action League
organization
NRA
organization
Petrolino
person
Michael Day
person
Smith & Wesson
organization
Gabby Giffords
person
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
organization
Ruth Zakarian
person
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