Mass. Gov. Patrick plans to file gun control bill

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Credit REUTERS/Eric Thayer

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to file a gun control bill as Massachusetts lawmakers continue weighing ways to reduce gun violence.

Patrick has previously pushed for a series of measures including restricting gun owners to purchasing one firearm a month.

He's also proposed clamping down on "straw purchasers" who buy guns legally and then resell them to convicted felons and others barred from owning guns.

Patrick has said he also wants to enroll Massachusetts in a national mental health registry for firearm background checks and tighten laws governing who may handle machine guns.

He plans to file his bill Wednesday.

The push for new gun legislation has intensified in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Lawmakers are considering other measures including requiring gun owners to buy liability insurance and setting tighter standards for firearms licenses.