Hat tip to No Looking Backwards:
ITEM 1: The Gun Owners’ Action League of Massachusetts reminds us that “2008 marks the ten year anniversary of the passage of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998, otherwise known as the Gun Control Act of 1998. Thousands of constituent complaints have poured into the Stat House regarding licensing delays, unfair denials, illegal overcharging of license fees, illegal application procedures, etc.”
- The Weapon Related Injury Surveillance System (WRISS) Report released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in March of 2007 shows a 78% INCREASE in firearm related assaults since 1998.
- The Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) reports from 1998 to 2006 show a 67% INCREASE in homicide related firearm deaths since 1998.
- ISP reports from 1998 to 2006 show a 236% INCREASE in assault related firearm hospital discharges since 1998.
- ISP reports from 1999 to 2006 show a 331% INCREASE in assault related emergency room visits since 1999.
- ISP reports from 2001 to 2006 (the most recent report available) show a 590% INCREASE in assault outpatient observations since 2001.
“These facts clearly demonstrate inarguably that the Gun Control Act of 1998 has become one of the greatest civil rights and public safety disasters of modern politics. The wrongful persecution of lawful citizens and the utter lack of any rational policies in fighting the real criminal element have led us to a Decade of Disaster! It is our hope that the Commonwealth will now realize what a great mistake it was to target lawful gun owners in 1998 and work towards reforming what have become to be known as the “Worst in the Nation Gun Laws”.”
ITEM 2: The Gun Control Act of 1998 was supported by Massachusetts State Senator James Mazilli. The legislation made it more difficult and cost-prohibitive – and in some cases, downright impossible – for women in Massachusetts to legally carry a concealed weapon to protect themselves from sexual predators. The act’s sponsor, state Senator Cheryl Jacques (D-Needham) bragged, “This legislation will give Massachusetts the toughest gun control law in the country.” So why would a State Senator like James Mazilli want to make it difficult, cost-prohibitive, or downright impossible for women in Massachusetts to protect themselves from sexual predators?
ITEM 3: The Boston Herald now tells us James Marzilli, an Arlington Democrat, faces several accusations of being a serial sex predator of women. Marzilli, 50, was arrested June 3rd on charges he made a vulgar comment and tried to grab a woman’s crotch on a Lowell park bench. The woman slapped his hand away saying, “Don’t you dare,” and alerted police. According to the police reports Marzilli would inquire about women’s genital shaving habits and then attempt to check it out himself. The charges include disorderly conduct, assault and battery, resisting arrest, attempt to commit a crime to wit indecent assault, furnishing a false name to a police officer, and lewd and lascivious behavior.
