ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY has drawn a line in the sand: Beginning immediately, Massachusetts gun dealers are on notice that selling a semi-automatic rifle that doesn’t comply with the state’s ban on assault weapons will result in criminal and civil penalties. Healey made the declaration in a press conference this morning — and in an […]
Gun control
Posted inCriminal Justice, Economy, Politics, State House News Service
Gun advocates protest billboards
A war of words over words erupted this week as gun rights advocates checkmated Boston developer John Rosenthal’s effort to spread his anti-gun violence message across Massachusetts via billboards. The billboards, which say “We’re Not Anti-Gun. We’re Pro-Life. Massachusetts Gun Laws Save Lives,” feature a Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle with a white surrender flag in […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Health Care, Opinion
Doctors should talk to patients about guns
IN 1991, PRESIDENT George Bush proclaimed March 30 as National Doctors Day, to salute physician leadership in the “prevention and treatment of illness and injury.” Physicians honor the designation; few professions have an annual national day of recognition acknowledging their work. This year, however, on the 25th anniversary of National Doctors Day, physicians across the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Hearing on DeLeo’s gun bill draws a crowd
Supporters and opponents packed a State House hearing on Tuesday afternoon on House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s recently-filed bill aimed at reducing gun violence in the Commonwealth. The bill, which aims to bolster the state’s already strong gun laws, includes implementation of background checks for private gun sales; further sharing of mental health and substance abuse […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
The true measure of gun violence
Gun owners staged a large rally outside the State House yesterday. The show of force came as state and national lawmakers move toward tightening restrictions on firearms, whether through background checks, weapon style and magazine capacity, or purchase volume. In Massachusetts, Rep. David Linsky is pushing to make gun owners carry potentially expensive liability insurance. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, The Download
Lawyers, guns, and money
Four gun measures are slated to be voted on today by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the votes will give some clues as to the fate of tougher gun control laws in Congress as both sides claim growing support for their views. The horror of the Sandy Hook massacre of 20 6- and 7-year-olds in […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics, The Download, Transportation
The language of guns
When President Obama unveiled his gun reform package yesterday, one month after the Newtown massacre, there was a commonly used phrase that wasn’t uttered by him or Vice President Joe Biden. Same with Gov. Deval Patrick, who also unveiled his measures yesterday. The term that was missing was “gun control” and you can bet as […]