Massachusetts lawmakers kill fee increase

Even in the People's Republic of Ted Kennedy, is seems, 100% tax increases on gun-owners won't fly:

BOSTON - Leaders of the state House of Representatives today killed a disputed proposal by the governor to hike license fees for guns.

House budget writers stripped the proposed fee hikes from a more comprehensive bill submitted by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. The bill, set to be approved today in the House, also calls for raising money to finance the state's near-universal health care law.

House leaders defeated the gun fee hikes after 59 members of the chamber signed a letter opposing the increases. A dozen members from Western Massachusetts, including Democratic Reps. Peter V. Kocot of Northampton and John W. Scibak of South Hadley, signed the letter.

Article here. Like many states, Massachusetts politicians representing the more rural areas tend to be more pro-gun than their urban and suburban counterparts. Unfortunately, the urban and suburban areas, with their greater populations, tend to dominate Massachusetts politics, resulting in a hostile environment for law-abiding gun owners. Criminals, naturally, aren't much affected by the Commonwealth's gun-control laws.