The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. A nonviolent misdemeanor should not be justification to lose a person's Second Amendment rights forever.Article XVII of the Constitution of the Commonweath of Massachusetts provides:"The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. "The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defense. The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms. However, this right is not absolute. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. In 2022, Massachusetts had the second lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 257 people die from gun violence in the state. The Second Amendment provides all citizens the right to own and possess firearms.