When then-Gov. Paul Cellucci signed a stringent gun control bill into law in 1998, Massachusetts gun laws were hailed as the toughest gun control legislation in the country.
Among its provisions, the law banned semiautomatic “assault” weapons, imposed stricter licensing regulations, and prohibited anyone convicted of a violent crime or drug trafficking from owning a gun.
“The new gun law,” he predicted, “will certainly prevent future gun violence and countless grief,” said John Rosenthal of Stop Handgun Violence at time, according to a report in
The Boston Globe.
VOTE NOW: Should All Fully Automatic Rifles Be Banned?
It didn’t, according to the report. In 2011, Massachusetts recorded 122 murders committed with firearms. And between 1998 and 2011, robbery with firearms climbed 20.7 percent, and aggravated assaults jumped 26.7 percent.
In August, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a new gun bill that overhauled the laws in Massachusetts. Included in the changes are the creation of an online portal within the Executive Office of Public Safety, which allows for real-time background checks, stiffer penalties for weapon-based crimes, a tracking unit for the state police, and a requirement that Massachusetts join the National Instant Background Check System.
The statistics on what impact the new legislation has on gun violence in Boston have not yet been released; however, several people have taken to Twitter to discuss the issue.
Here are five recent tweets:
ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
URGENT: Do You Support President Obama’s Plans for Stricter Gun Control? Vote Now
Related Stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.