Posted on 04/18/2002 7:35:59 AM PDT by Joe Brower
Lawmakers rally against gun violence: State Sen. Cheryl Jacques leads group, pushes for legislation
By Michael Kunzelman
BOSTON - Lawmakers and gun-control advocates from across New England, including the MetroWest region, gathered at the State House yesterday to share strategies for curbing gun violence.
The group, led by state Sen. Cheryl Jacques, D-Needham, announced the formation of a new regional partnership aimed at preventing criminals from crossing state lines to illegally obtain weapons.
"The reality is that in our small region guns know no borders," Jacques said. "We cannot pretend that if we are successful in limiting illegal access to weapons in one state, that we will be safe."
About 50 elected officials and advocates from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island traveled to Boston for the daylong conference, which is believed to be the first of its kind.
"Urban America is under siege from gun violence," said Rhode Island state Rep. David Cicilline, D-Providence. "By sharing information, we can succeed in each of our communities in reducing gun violence."
Natick resident Betsy Boggia, president of the region's Million Mom March chapter, said an estimated 84 people die of gun violence each day.
"I don't think we've lost that many soldiers in the Afghan war yet," she said. "We're not advocating banning guns. Our group is about a commitment to keeping them out of the hands of children and criminals."
State Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, joined Jacques in calling for the Legislature to pass several gun-control measures they co-sponsored.
One of the bills is designed to close a loophole in the state's assault weapons ban that allowed weapons owned before Sept. 12, 1994, to be legally sold or transferred.
Another piece of legislation, which Linsky and state Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, co-sponsored, would ban some gun owners from purchasing more than one firearm or large-capacity weapon during any 30-day period.
A third bill would create a statewide database of "ballistic fingerprints," requiring all gun-makers to give the state a discharged projectile and a spent shell casing for every gun they manufacture. Ballistics evidence from crime scenes could be compared against the information in the database.
All three measures are pending in the House or Senate.
Yes, let's criminalize gun violence. What's taken them so long?
Our Rights are now viewed as "loopholes" by the tyrants.
Those who support unconstitutional legislation, such as this, are guilty of treason and sedition, and should face a jury of their peers on those charges.
You forgot knives and rope.
I have been WAITING for the anti-gun supporters of totalitarianism to wait until the memory of 9-11 (and the PRO gun raction) faded, so they COULD LAUNCH THEIR COUNTER ATTACK.
OK. Now we need to launch a counter to their counter attack. Suggenstions?
These people are the enemy. They will not stop until we are dead or they are dead or we are totally enslaved. They do not listen to reason, they don't care about constitutional issues ,and they certaintly are unmoved by any desire for freedom on our part because they want us to lose all freedom.
The NRA's tactic of preemptive surrender hasn't been working too well. People like Jacques, Schumer, Brady, etc. are more of a threat than the NVA was during the '70s, because the NVA could kill you, but they couldn't enslave your children. I wouldn't like to make any condign suggestions here, but keep in mind that they are a remorseless implacable enemy that will never rest until they have destroyed every last vestige of freedom that we serfs have.
Come again? who determines large-capacity? how is a large-capacity weapon different from a fire arm? A sword could cut down quite a few people before it dulled, is that large capacity? BAH
Brian
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