Peter Koutoujian joined Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino and the public today at the State House to testify on the proposed new gun control measures. Peter in his recent role as Sheriff has a unique position and motivation to advance the cause of responsible gun control and gun violence prevention.
Peter Koutoujian is not new to this cause. His maiden speech in 1998 before the Massachusetts legislature was a plea for greater gun control and led to enactment of the current law that is among the strictest in the nation.
Even so, in the last several years since that legislation was enacted, there has been an epidemic of gun violence with unexpected changes gun ownership, illegal movement of guns into Massachusetts from states with relaxed or non-existent laws, gun product development, and aggressive special interest pro-gun advocacy.
The link below will take you to Peter's policy statement on prevention of gun violence.
http://www.koutoujianforcongress.com/issues/gun-violence
The Supreme Court's decision in Heller vs. Washington D.C. sustained the 2nd Amendment concept of the right to own a gun, but also included a finding that governments have the right to establish reasonable and responsible control legislation in the interests of public health and safety.
Lets wish him and all other advocates of gun violence prevention best of luck as they lead the cause to upgrade and widen gun control legislation.
Peter Koutoujian is a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2013 special election for the U.S. House of Representatives. He is running to succeed Ed Markey as our U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 5th district.
