Massachusetts
Massachusetts Senate looks to tackle ghost guns, trigger activators in firearm reform bill
Top Senate Democrats released a long-promised gun reform bill Thursday that updates state ghost gun laws, codifies Massachusetts’ existing ban on assault weapons, and makes illegal devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
Senate President Karen Spilka pitched the legislation as an omnibus proposal that “would help make residents safer,” cracks down on untraceable firearms, and builds on Massachusetts’ “strong record” of gun safety and violence prevention.
“This fact is not by accident,” Spilka said at the State House. “It’s because we have been vigilant in updating … our gun laws to prevent those who wish to do harm from being able to access and use deadly weapons. We believe Massachusetts is, and should continue to be, a model for the nation when it comes to gun safety laws.”
The proposal sets up a dispute with House lawmakers, who passed their own firearms bill in October that drew opposition from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. The association decided to instead support the Senate proposal.
Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association President Chief Eric Gillis said members decided to back the Senate proposal because of “the ability to collaborate with Senate leadership.”
The Agawam police chief declined to say if there were any specific policy differences between the House and Senate that made the Senate proposal more appetizing.
“I can say that what we find in the Senate bill makes sense. It’s concise. At the end of the day, it has to be enforceable. Whatever this body does, has to be carried out by people in our sphere. And when it’s distilled down and simple and makes sense, it’s going to work. So that’s what works for us,” he said during a press conference hosted by the Senate.
The two competing efforts to reform Massachusetts’ gun laws draw one difference in their length. The House version clocks in at 126 pages while the Senate attempts to rework state gun laws in 35 pages.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano, a 14-term Quincy Democrat, said the branch “looks forward” to reviewing the Senate proposal.
“We look forward to reviewing the Senate’s proposal, keeping in mind the critical nature of the reforms included in the House’s proposal, and the urgency around the issue of gun violence generally,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Senate leadership wants to change Massachusetts’ definition of a firearm to align with federal standards.
The definition currently in place only applies to a fully assembled weapon that is capable of discharging a bullet, which means if a person has parts or components of a weapon but has not put them together, they are not in possession of a firearm.
“Massachusetts gun laws are currently inadequate at preventing the unlawful possession of guns, and particularly the growing phenomenon of untraceable ghost guns. This bill will track these unlicensed weapons the same as any other gun and keep them out of the hands of people who are not licensed to carry,” Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem said.
Glock switches, selector switches, and auto sears that turn a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon are banned under the bill, with Senate lawmakers arguing the devices are commonly used in mass shootings and make firearms more dangerous.
Creem pointed to a shooting at Boston’s J’ouvert celebrations in August that left eight people with non-life-threatening injuries as an effect of the devices.
“Their goal is the same, to make a gun more dangerous by shooting it rapidly,” the Newton Democrat said.
The bill bars someone from carrying a firearm into a government administrative building and courthouse, though it makes exceptions for law enforcement officers and, in a difference from the House, allows municipalities to opt-out of the provision.
The Senate’s proposal does not limit the carrying of firearms onto private residences of others nor does it address bringing weapons onto school properties, which Creem said were already covered under existing laws.
“We didn’t want to touch that. It is now law that you can’t have a gun in a school so we didn’t need to redo what was done,” she said. “But this applies to government buildings, administrative buildings and courthouses.”
In a departure from the House, the Senate pitched allowing firearm licensing authorities to have access to information about an applicant’s history of involuntary mental hospitalizations due to posing a serious harm.
The Senate requires a law enforcement agency that is involved in a temporary involuntary hospitalization of an individual with a mental health condition to submit information about the incident to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
Creem said there are “appropriate safeguards to guarantee privacy and due process.”
The bill allows health care professionals to petition courts to remove firearms and licenses from patients who pose a risk to themselves or others, an update to Massachusetts’ red flag law and extreme risk protection orders.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the legislation is a “much needed step.”
“There is no question that the time to act is now. We must have gun laws that reflect the changes in technology, the personal tragedies caused by gun violence and its shattering impact on communities,” Campbell said in a statement provided by the Senate.
Massachusetts
Election Day is Tuesday for 55 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Here’s what’s on the ballot.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day for 55 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at most locations. Click here to find your polling place.
Here’s a look at what’s on the ballot in some notable municipal elections.
Boston election
Mayor Michelle Wu is unopposed in her bid for a second term after winning big in the preliminary election over Josh Kraft, who then dropped out of the race
Incumbent city councilors-at-large Erin Murphy, Henry Santana, Ruthzee Louijeune and Julia Mejia are running for re-election, while former City Council Frank Baker is trying to make a comeback.
In District 7, Rev. Miniard Culpepper and Said “Coach” Ahmed are running for the seat vacated by former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who pleaded guilty to public corruption charges.
Somerville mayor’s race
Incumbent Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne ran for re-election, but did not advance past the preliminary stage. Two city councilors, Democratic socialist Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson are facing off. According to Axios Boston, Burnley Jr. would be Somerville’s first Black, openly queer and polyamorous mayor.
Everett mayoral election
Carlo DeMaria has been the mayor of Everett since 2008. He is running against City Councilor Robert Van Campen, who has highlighted an Inspector General report that said DeMaria was improperly paid $180,000 in “longevity payments.” DeMaria has said he was entitled to receive annual salary adjustments.
Lawrence election
Incumbent Brian De Pena is facing off against Juan “Manny” Gonzalez in the mayor’s race.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin’s office said it will be monitoring the election after “numerous complaints” about absentee ballot applications.
Brockton race for mayor
Brockton voters will make history by electing City Councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt or City Councilor Moises Rodrigues as the city’s first mayor of color.
Melrose override
Melrose residents are voting on three override options to fund city and school services, ranging between $9.3 million and $13.5 million. Property taxes would increase on average between $948 and $1,374 for homeowners. The highest dollar amount that receives a majority of votes would take effect.
Where elections are happening in Massachusetts
Below are the cities and towns holding elections on Tuesday, according to the secretary of the Commonwealth:
- Agawam (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Amesbury
- Amherst
- Attleboro
- Barnstable
- Beverly
- Boston
- Braintree
- Brockton
- Cambridge
- Chelsea
- Chicopee (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Easthampton
- Everett
- Fall River
- Fitchburg
- Framingham
- Franklin (6 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Gardner
- Gloucester
- Greenfield
- Haverhill
- Holyoke
- Lawrence
- Leominster
- Lowell
- Lynn
- Malden
- Marlborough
- Medford
- Melrose
- Methuen (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- New Bedford
- Newburyport
- Newton
- North Adams
- Northampton
- Peabody
- Pittsfield (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Quincy
- Randolph
- Revere
- Salem
- Saugus
- Somerville
- Springfield
- Taunton
- Waltham
- Watertown
- West Springfield
- Westfield (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Weymouth
- Winthrop
- Woburn
- Worcester
Massachusetts
Massachusetts High School Football 2025 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (MIAA) – November 2, 2025
The 2025 Massachusetts high school football playoffs begin on Friday, November 7, and go into Saturday, November 8, with 64 games in the round of 16.
High School On SI has brackets division in the Massachusetts high school playoffs.
Round of 16
No. 1 Nashoba Valley Tech vs. No. 16 Sabis International – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Frontier Regional vs. No. 9 KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Randolph vs. No. 13 Oxford – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Hoosac Valley vs. No. 12 Blackstone-Millville – 11/08 at 12:00 p.m.
No. 2 Lee vs. No. 15 Narragansett Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Cathedral vs. No. 10 Prouty – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 West Boylston vs. No. 14 Bartlett – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Bourne vs. No. 11 Lynn Vo-Tech – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Cohasset vs. No. 16 Leicester – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Rockland vs. No. 9 Tyngsborough – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Northbridge vs. No. 13 Seekonk – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 Manchester Essex vs. No. 12 Millbury – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Amesbury vs. No. 15 South Hadley – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 Uxbridge vs. No. 10 Blue Hills RVT – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 West Bridgewater vs. No. 14 St. Bernard’s Central Catholic – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Clinton vs. No. 11 Mashpee – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Norwell vs. No. 16 Case – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Pentucket Regional vs. No. 9 Nantucket – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Wilmington vs. No. 13 Old Rochester Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Hudson vs. No. 12 Bellingham – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Abington vs. No. 15 Triton Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Bishop Fenwick vs. No. 10 Medway – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Fairhaven vs. No. 14 East Bridgewater – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Stoneham vs. No. 11 Winthrop – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Shawsheen Valley Tech vs. No. 16 Salem – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 St. Mary’s vs. No. 9 Greater Lawrence Tech – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Medfield vs. No. 13 Northeast Metro RVT – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 North Reading vs. No. 12 Marlborough – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Foxborough vs. No. 15 Norton – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 Gloucester vs. No. 10 Auburn – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 Hanover vs. No. 14 Weston – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Archbishop Williams vs. No. 11 Swampscott – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Scituate vs. No. 16 Tantasqua Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Bedford vs. No. 9 Walpole – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Duxbury vs. No. 13 Holliston – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Burlington vs. No. 12 Dartmouth – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Tewksbury Memorial vs. No. 15 Middleborough – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Ashland vs. No. 10 Danvers – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Canton vs. No. 14 Wakefield Memorial – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Marblehead vs. No. 11 Shepherd Hill Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 King Philip Regional vs. No. 16 Chicopee Comp – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 Mansfield vs. No. 9 Plymouth South – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Hingham vs. No. 13 Minnechaug Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Marshfield vs. No. 12 Malden Catholic – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Barnstable vs. No. 15 Doherty Memorial – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 North Attleborough vs. No. 10 Milford – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Milton vs. No. 14 Reading Memorial – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Masconomet Regional vs. No. 11 Melrose – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Catholic Memorial — BYE
No. 8 Wellesley vs. No. 9 Plymouth North – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Winchester vs. No. 13 North Quincy – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Lincoln-Sudbury vs. No. 12 Concord-Carlisle – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Bishop Feehan — BYE
No. 7 Quincy vs. No. 10 Chelmsford – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Bridgewater-Raynham vs. No. 14 Woburn Memorial – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Billerica Memorial vs. No. 11 Beverly – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 St. John’s Prep vs. No. 16 Framingham – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 Leominster vs. No. 9 Franklin – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Natick vs. No. 13 Weymouth – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 Central Catholic vs. No. 12 St. John’s – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Central vs. No. 15 Taunton – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 7 Methuen vs. No. 10 Lowell – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Xaverian Brothers vs. No. 14 Brockton – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Wachusett Regional vs. No. 11 Andover – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Massachusetts
Seven high school sports takeaways from the final day of the MIAA football regular season – The Boston Globe
Find all the scores here. Final football conference standings live here. We also have final boys’ and girls’ soccer standings. Today’s headlines:
▪ It was the biggest win of the day, and a monumental one for St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre, who notched his 100th career win with a 43-28 defeat of No. 3 Catholic Memorial. St. Pierre is in his 12th season at the helm of his alma mater, where he was named Gatorade Player of the Year and quarterbacked the Eagles to a 1997 Super Bowl title before going on to play at Boston College and earn a fifth-round draft selection to the NFL, where he played for four teams in an eight-year career.
He is the third coach in Prep history to reach 100 wins, joining Fred Glatz and Jim O’Leary.
▪ Andover senior Naomi Vajda recorded her 100th career block among three rejections in a 3-0 Division 1 first-round girls’ volleyball win over Boston Latin. Vajda added six kills and four aces.
▪ Despite an 0-5 start, Brockton rallied to win the Big Three Conference with a 23-0 blanking of Durfee, which came a week after they destroyed New Bedford, 41-0. Casey Rhodes, Marcio Semedo, and Jarred Mighty scored Saturday as the Boxers (3-5, 2-0) also punched their ticket to the Division 1 tournament.
▪ With a 31-28 win over Loomis Chaffee, Avon Old Farms (Conn.) wrapped up an undefeated season (8-0) and captured the Founders League title.
▪ Nobles boys’ soccer defeated Brooks, 3-1, to secure the Independent School League crown.
▪ Minuteman boys’ soccer dispensed with McCann Tech, 5-1, to win the State Vocational Small School championship. The Greater New Bedford boys defeated Greater Lowell, 3-0, for the Large School title.
Congratulations to our Boys ⚽️ Team for reclaiming the seat a top Vocational Boys Soccer with the 2025 State Vocational Championship. The team defeated Gr Lowell 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8atj06V8kp
— GNBVT Athletics (@GNBVTathletics) November 2, 2025
Ellis Barnes, BB&N — The senior defensive back, who is committed to Columbia, came up big for the Knights in a 17-7 NEPSAC win over St. Paul’s (N.H.), picking off two passes and making seven tackles.
Peter Bourque, Tabor — A regular in this space, the Michigan-bound quarterback showed off his legwork in the second half, rushing for three touchdowns in a come-from-behind 39-21 NEPSAC win over St. Sebastian’s. The junior QB finished with 232 passing yards and five total touchdowns.
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick — The sophomore threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a third score in a 34-6 Catholic Central League road win.
Elai Machado, KIPP — The 6-foot-4-inch junior quarterback ran for touchdowns of 15, 45, and 40 yards, and tossed a 20-yard scoring strike for the Panthers in a 41-6 Commonwealth Conference win over Lowell Catholic.
Jalen Morris, Rivers — The biggest rushing performance of the day belonged to the junior, who took 23 carries for 259 yards and four scores in a 47-6 NEPSAC win over Governor’s.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon — The junior had himself a day, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-6 win over Fitchburg that featured several big performances, including Matt Khrakovsky’s 207 rushing yards and three scores and Joseph Seaman’s 119 receiving yards and two TDs.
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin — The senior quarterback combined three passing TDs with one on the ground to beat St. George’s, 30-0, in NEPSAC action.
Here’s betting Classical (R.I.) senior Bam Adebayo had quite the interesting Saturday morning.
The 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback/safety posted that he got his first preferred walk-on offer from URI. No doubt a big moment. A chance to play Division 1 football in his homestate.
Then Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell took notice, quote-tweeting the post and tagging Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, who ironically, uses the X handle @Bam1of1.
“Congrats bro!! Keep working” Mitchell wrote.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 381
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 268
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 232
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 192
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 4
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 4
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin, 3
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 2
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 259
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 207
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 142
Aavian Peña, KIPP, 116
Zack Deschenes, Nashoba Valley Tech, 4
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 4
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 3
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 3
Elia Machado, KIPP, 3
Ryan Beede, Northeast, 2
Xavier Hairston, Taft, 2
Ziah Herring, Greater Lawrence, 2
Joel LaChapelle, Northbridge, 2
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Nikki Santos, Cambridge, 130
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 130
Joseph Seaman, Sharon, 119
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 2
6. Field hockey leaderboard
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Alexa Heller, Wellesley, 2
Sydney Kim, Wellesley, 2
Annie Liebhoff, Rivers, 2
Ciara Maloney, Medway, 2
Lauren Mattia, Lynnfield, 2
Olivia McCormick, Hanover, 2
Natalie McMenamy, Medway, 2
Effie Parsons, St. Mary’s, 2
Caroline Vaughan, Andover, 2
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Bridgette McGinnis, Bishop Feehan, 3
7. Volleyball leaderboard
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 25
Tess Madden, Hanover, 22
Erin Root, Old Rochester, 14
Mia Milani, Bellingham, 13
Lila Arkinstall, Wakefield, 12
Victoria Reposa, Reading, 12
Mia Kenny, Wakefield, 11
Lila Moniz, Marblehead, 11
Anna Fernandez, Westford, 10
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 10
Sadie Stants, Needham, 10
Jessie Wang, Andover, 10
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 10
Elizabeth Willis, East Bridgewater, 10
Madison Blanchet, Central Catholic, 38
Maya Morrison, Old Rochester, 37
Sadie Chadwick, Hanover, 35
Eva Burke, Marblehead, 29
Bella Lee, Needham, 27
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 25
Erin Bigham, Canton, 24
Tori Grace, Wakefield, 18
Gianna Miceli, Reading, 16
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 14
Cara Carangelo, Wakefield, 33
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 20
Soley Rodriguez Martinez, Canton, 7
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 14
Sydney Faris, Marblehead, 13
Olivia Lesswing, Haverhill, 10
Ryleigh Brown, Somerset Berkley, 9
Erin Bigham, Canton, 8
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 8
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 6
Kaely Dos Santos, Somerset Berkley, 5
Piper Newell, Old Rochester, 4
Katie Ferrara, Somerset Berkley, 3
Mary Furey, Reading, 3
Norah Schweitzer, Westford, 3
Naomi Vajda, Andover, 3
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 7
Bella Lee, Needham, 7
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 7
Faith Najem, Whitinsville Christian, 6
Claire Zhang, Andover, 6
Brie Cairns, Chelmsford, 5
Alicia Marcal, Chelmsford, 5
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 5
Dylan Poirier, Hanover, 5
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 5
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 5
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
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