The Civil Rights Coalition Surpasses 90,000 Signatures in Historic Petition Drive
Boston, MA – The Civil Rights Coalition proudly announces a monumental achievement in its campaign to suspend and bring to referendum Massachusetts Chapter 135 (H4885), known as “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.” As of October 06, the Coalition has successfully gathered 90,078 signatures from registered voters across the Commonwealth, surpassing all expectations in just 30 days.
“This extraordinary accomplishment demonstrates unwavering support from people of all walks of life. Individuals who are passionate about defending our civil and constitutional rights,” said Toby Leary, Chair of The Civil Rights Coalition. “In about one third the typical 90-day timeframe, we have united tens of thousands of voices who believe this law is a threat to our freedoms. People everywhere are starting to recognize that if we allow politicians to modernize our civil and constitutional rights… we will lose them… one at a time.”
The Coalition’s grassroots efforts were powered by over 800 volunteers from diverse communities across Massachusetts. Despite Governor Healey invoking an Emergency Preamble in an attempt to thwart the group’s constitutional efforts, The Civil Rights Coalition remains resolute. The Coalition is confident that when the legality of the “Emergency Preamble” is challenged in court, the courts will recognize the constitutional process followed by nearly 100,000 citizens and reject the political interference of the Governor. The courts are unlikely to allow the disenfranchisement of so many voters for purely political reasons.
This signature drive, one of the fastest and most successful petition campaigns in recent Massachusetts history, achieved success without major financial backing or paid signature gatherers. The Coalition’s efforts stand in stark contrast to typical drives, which often take 90 days or more to gather a comparable number of signatures.
The Coalition’s next step is to submit the remaining signatures for certification with town and city clerks by Oct 9th and the submit to the Secy of State prior to the October 23 deadline, moving one step closer to bringing this critical issue to the voters in the 2026 general election.
“We are overwhelmed by the level of dedication shown by our supporters. This is just the beginning of a campaign that will empower Massachusetts voters to stand up for their rights,” added Leary. “We will not rest until the civil rights of the people are respected and this law is overturned.”
For more information about The Civil Rights Coalition and our ongoing efforts, visit https://thecivilrightscoalition.com.
