Posted on 12/13/2005 8:10:45 AM PST by pabianice
For the last several weeks the Massachusetts media has begun talking about the rising crime rate in Boston, most particularly the rising crime rate surrounding illegal firearms. As GOAL members know, we have been reporting this for almost three years now. The state’s own Department of Public Health has been tracking this rise in gun crime ever since the passage of the state’s “Worst in the Nation” gun laws in 1998.
Now that the state’s gun laws have failed to stem crime (in fact they have done just the opposite) some Boston city officials are scrambling to come up with an answer. In a recent interview, Mayor Menino actually suggested that the State Police start conducting random searches at the state border. One Boston City Councilor actually wrote in a Resolution: “Our city streets are being flooded with various types of firearms that are often obtained in neighboring New England States, and other states, and sold illegally to people both young and old in our neighborhoods…Though the Commonwealth of Massachusetts possesses some of the strictest firearm laws in the United States, lenient policies in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and other states make guns easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain…”
We can only view these statements as a veiled admission of the failure of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998. Think about what is actually being said here and phrase it differently: ‘Our local criminals supposedly like to go elsewhere to buy illegal items, but they always come home to commit the crimes. Boston has one heck of an illegal market for guns, but it isn’t our fault’. The bottom line is that for whatever reason, Boston has become a haven for crime and rather than taking responsibility for it, city officials are out to blame states that don’t treat lawful citizens like criminals.
Another “answer” to this crime wave has been proposed by City Councilor Rob Consalvo. He has filed a resolution with the City Council asking for a “Gun Offender Registry”. According to the Councilor’s proposed “Registry”: “would allow public safety officials to better track those committing firearm violations, enable crime-watch and community groups to stay aware of where illegal firearm violators live in their neighborhoods, empower families to protect their children from associating with illegal firearm violators…”
So, according to the Resolution, currently the Boston Police don’t already track the violent criminals in the city and the people in crime ridden neighborhoods don’t know who the gang members are? We hope they’re kidding. Also, for the record, the Massachusetts Neighborhood Crime Watch Commission no longer exists. Its funding was removed by the legislature two years ago. Also, under Mayor Menino’s administration there are nearly 200 fewer police officers on the street.
The Resolution also does not tell us what kind of firearm crimes would qualify for the new “Registry”. If I am out hunting and I happen to cross a back country road without putting my shotgun in a case am I going to have to become a Registered Gun Offender in Boston?
The bottom line is that GOAL warned everyone years ago that gun laws don’t work and arguing for stricter laws only diverts attention from the real problems. Once again we were correct and unfortunately we all have paid the price for it. While certain government officials and anti-civil rights groups were celebrating the 1998 gun laws and distracting people from the real crime solutions, the lawful gun owners have been reduced to second class citizen status, state residents have been overwhelmed by increasing crime, police staffing is being reduced, and Neighborhood Crime Watch was shut down. Hmmm, and people are wondering why there is an increase in violent crime?
Plain and simple, because of its own problems, Boston has again become a dangerous place to live, work and visit. Until the City learns how to take care of its growing crime problem, GOAL would urge its members and their families to avoid visiting the City, especially for any Christmas shopping. Instead, perhaps our members will consider spending some time in the civil rights friendly states to the north.
What they are really thinking is that if the rest of the nation had guns laws like Mass. there wouldn't be any more crime!
"Random searches at the border... Yeah, that'll work. (NOT!!!)"
Better not be at the Mass/NH boarder. We here in NH will send down a few regiments of militia to the border to take out them MASS-HOLES.
This is an awesome, awesome article.
This is an awesome, awesome article.
If the feds cannot stop a truckload of illegal immigrants, how many handguns do you think the smuggling ring can put in place of one human body? Do the math, the numbers will be large. So if the US outlaws guns, the illegal immigrant smuggling rings would simply add illegal guns to their resume of contraband. Worst the guns will be copies of US guns with no serial numbers, or if they have serial numbers, it would be traced to US military aid to Latin America that were stolen from military shipments or South American military/police armories.
I fully agree.
...Boston City Officials Admit Failure of Massachusetts Gun Laws...
Be sure to mention that to that gungrabbing puke Romney.
For instance one of the Nazi prime directives were to remove firearms from the citizenry so they could not resist. The Leftists may feel they have different motives but the results are the same.
Massatwoshits bump
I'll join you. I live in NH.
"Better not be at the Mass/NH boarder. We here in NH will send down a few regiments of militia to the border to take out them MASS-HOLES."
I travel down to Assachusetts everyday for work, how the heck would they enforce a Border check without causing a riot with commuters. While we are on the subject where are the good gun shops in SouthernEastern NH anyway?
ping.....and so it goes.....
"I travel down to Assachusetts everyday for work, how the heck would they enforce a Border check without causing a riot with commuters. While we are on the subject where are the good gun shops in SouthernEastern NH anyway?"
So do I ... down 93 to 495 south ... what a nightmare.
Good places to go is Riley's in Hooksett (http://www.rileysguns.com/), also a lot of people go to the Kittery Trading Post just over the boarder in Maine (NH residents are very welcome there).
Also there is Frank's Gun Shop in Weare NH (out of his home) at http://www.franksgunshop.com/ ... he is excellent and always has a few million rounds of anything you can think of, plus any Class III stuff you want up to full auto M2HB's and M60's.
Though the Commonwealth of Massachusetts possesses some of the strictest firearm laws in the United States, lenient policies in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and other states make guns easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain…”
Why do these other states with easy availability or "lenient policies" have lower amounts of gun crime?
The gun banning liberals are always so incurious about this.
You got to read this.
They can't stop it in Britain and that's an ISLAND!!!!
Roger that!
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