UMass Amherst, in Partnership with Worcester and Salem State Universities, to Host Forum on Gun Law Referendum

Representatives of “yes” and “no” campaigns for Ballot Question 9 to speak Oct. 8 at Old Chapel

AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ (SBS) Democracy Project, in partnership with Worcester State University and Salem State University, will host a public forum on Ballot Question 9, a referendum on the commonwealth’s 2024 firearms law, on Thursday, Oct. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. in Old Chapel.

The event will bring together representatives from both sides of the ballot question for a moderated discussion. Toby Leary, founder of The Civil Rights Coalition and co-founder and president of Cape Gun Works in Hyannis, will represent the “no” position. Megan DesAutels, campaign coordinator of Vote Yes on 9 for a Safe Massachusetts will represent the “yes” position. The conversation will be led by Democracy Project co-chair Jamie Rowen, director of the Center for Justice, Law, and Societies and professor of legal studies at UMass Amherst.

Question 9 is a veto referendum on Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, the state’s most recent gun-law package. The legislation increases the regulation of firearms, including ghost guns, machine guns and assault-style weapons. Leary’s coalition collected 100,000 signatures to put the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. A “yes” vote keeps the law in place. A “no” vote repeals it. 

The event is part of the Commonwealth Ballot Forum, developed by Worcester State University’s John Binienda Center for Civic Engagement, in partnership with the UMass Amherst SBS Democracy Project and the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics at Salem State University. The initiative builds on former state Rep. John Binienda’s legacy by demonstrating how public higher education can serve its communities as a place for learning, dialogue and informed civic participation.

The series kicks off Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. at Worcester State with a forum on Ballot Question 4, regarding Election Day voter registration. It continues Oct. 8 with the UMass Amherst forum and a dialogue session at Salem State at 12:15 p.m. on Ballot Question 7, which addresses the minimum lot size municipalities can require for building single-family homes.

All forums are free and open to the public. Online registration is encouraged.

About the University of Massachusetts Amherst

The flagship of the commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors.

Contact:
Jamie Rowen, jrowen@umass.edu
Aaron Kupec, akupec@umass.edu