By Owen Boss/Patch



A state committee charged with establishing a concrete plan to curb gun violence in Massachusetts delivered their final report on Feb. 3, during an event at Northeastern University.



The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence was formed in 2013 after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. and brought together organizations and institutions across the state to end the epidemic of gun violence.



Over the course of a nine-month period, the committee, which was organized at the behest of Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo, met 15 times to hammer out the details, according to Boston Magazine.



Although Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun policies and ranks among the lowest states in overall gun violence, the report found that there are still "gaps that allow for irresponsible ownership and tragic deaths."



The Coalition supports the following principles:



Universal background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales

A strengthened background check system.

A suitability standard for all gun licenses; with discretion for local licensing authorities

Prohibition of military assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Stronger penalties for gun-related crime, including failure to report lost and stolen guns and trafficking of firearm.

to read the coalition's full report.