Thursday, April 4, 2013
Protesters urged lawmakers not to pass Gov. Patrick's proposed gun control bill.
Taking aim at Democrats, the media and others they say are attacking the Second Amendment, hundreds of gun rights activists gathered on the Boston Common Wednesday afternoon to rally to fight a bill that would tighten gun control. "Every time the government passes new gun control laws it creates a problem," Ying Li, an engineer who participated in the 1989 pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square, told the crowd. The rally was organized by the Gun Owners' Action League and was partly in response to new gun control measures being considered at the State House, including Gov. Deval Patrick's bill to limit firearm purchases to one a month, reduce access to high-powered rounds of ammunition and require background checks …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The governor unveiled legislation Wednesday to strengthen gun laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services. Sensible or reactionary?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps, or reactionary measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would, among other things: Punishments for crimes involving guns would also sharpen, with tiered punishments for possessing different weapons on school property and giving police the authority to arrest without…
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Congressman Ed Markey, who represents Weston, sent a letter to Vice President Joe Biden Wednesday calling for a new assault weapons ban and improved background checks, among other measures.
Congressman Ed Markey sent a letter to the vice president Wednesday with proposed recommendations for his task force on guns. In the letter (attached), the Malden Democrat asks Joe Biden to consider recommending "a new assault weapons ban that includes all semi-automatic weapons capable of accommodating an ammunition magazine greater than 10 rounds.” He also asks the vice president to consider “a ban on ‘drums’ or ‘magazines’ of ammunition that can carry more than 10 bullets, which were used to deadly effect in both the Newtown and Aurora kilings.” “These are weapons designed for war – not for hunting or protecting one’s home – and have no purpose except to kill as many people as possible without the need to reload,” Markey wrote. In the …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Does the massacre at Newtown, Conn., signal the need for a political debate on gun regulations?
Before officials had even held their first press conference Friday, Facebook was abuzz with status updates about the Newtown, Conn, tragedy. The statuses were split between those sending their condolences and those asking if the country would finally deal with the issue of gun control. Some fought back, asking for respect and mourning before political debate began. Others remained fierce in their belief that stricter gun control regulations would have prevented such a mass killing, saying the victims were shot multiple times and with semi-automatic weapons, according to Fox News. The guns were not illegal and were, in fact, owned by the shooter's mother. Among them were a semi-automatic .223 caliber bushmaster rifle and two handguns. Those…
Friday, December 14, 2012
Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), dean of the New England Congressional delegation, issued the following statement after the fatal school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
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Friday, December 14, 2012
Rep. Markey's statement: “Today’s news of the horrific school shooting of students, teachers and staff is shocking and horrifying, and my deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives today in such a senseless and tragic event. As we learn more about the situation at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we remember how precious life is and how we at our best when we come together as a nation to support each other in our time of grief. Our collective heart breaks as we consider the family members who are being given the worst news imaginable, and we turn our thoughts and prayers to all of the people of Newtown affected today in the hopes for a full and speedy recovery. “How many more innocent people have …
Monday, December 10, 2012
A Massachusetts gun owners group is lobbying for passage of a bill that would confer lifetime gun licenses — no renewals necessary.
Way too much red tape. That's the complaint of the Gun Owners’ Action League of Massachusetts, a group that is urging passage of a law that would abolish the requirement of having to renew a gun permit every six years, according to the Boston Herald. For comparison, Massachusetts vehicle drivers' licenses need to be renewed every five years. But the league says local police cannot keep up with timely gun permit renewals, and legitimate gunowners go license-less until the cops get time to do the paperwork. The law now allows 40 days for turning around license applications. In Boston, almost 1,000 people have applied for gun permits so far this year, with waits running about 10 weeks, the Herald quotes police spokeswoman Cheryl Fiandaca …
Friday, August 24, 2012
A gunman opened fire this morning near the Empire State Building, the latest in this summer's gun carnage. What do you think the response should be?
Yet another one. In the most recent mass shooting this morning, police say a gunman opened fire just outside the Empire State Building in New York City just after 9 a.m. Sources told the New York Daily News a dispute erupted between co-workers at a business in the Empire State Building. They say the shooter casually walked away from the scene; witnesses pointed him out to the police and he was then shot dead by police. Earlier this month, a lone gunman — an Army veteran and labeled as a white supremacist — allegedly opened fire and killed six people and wounded three others at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. He also was shot and killed by police. Possible involvement by others is still being investigated. Last month, a lone gunman …
Joe Deveau
10:30 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Don't forget more prisons. a 50 thousand bed facility would suit me. more ›