A bipartisan group of 58 state legislators sent a letter to Attorney General Maura Healey on Saturday, over her crackdown on what she calls copycat assault weapons.

The legislators claim she took action unilaterally, and with little notice for gun dealers and owners.

Among the signatories was Fall River State Rep. Alan Silvia who told WBSM's Barry Richard that the measure created concerns for both legal gun owners and legislators alike.

"People are not sure what they can own or what they purchase," said Silvia "and the other issue, and the issue that upsets many of us the most, is what was the exact constitutional or statutory basis that authorizes the attorney general to take that kind of an action."

In addition Silvia said the state already has very comprehensive gun laws that were properly created through the legislative process and that it was inappropriate for Healey to intervene in such a way.

"We passed a better firearm package to protect those who purchase, and to protect our citizens, than most states have," said Silvia "we at least dealt with the issue that our federal government fails to deal with, and for us to have a knee-jerk decision from the AG is not acceptable."

Silvia says they have requested a legislative hearing with Healey to discuss the matter.

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420