Published May 9, 2011
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Two days after a 19-year-old became Boston’s ninth homicide victim of the year, Gov. Deval Patrick today proposed tougher gun laws in an attempt to reduce youth violence.
Patrick says he’s filing legislation that “provides public safety officials with new criminal sanctions and investigative tools to go after guns and gangs.” It would also create three new felonies:
- assault and battery with a firearm;
- assault with a firearm;
- being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Additionally, the governor says he wants to create a public-private fund of $10 million to pay for existing anti-violence resource gaps and intervention programs.
“We’re losing too many children to gun- and gang-related violence,” Patrick said. “The life of any young person is not expendable. We have to act and we have to act together.” He spoke at Mattapan’s Mildred Avenue Community Center, and was joined by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Attorney General Martha Coakley and other political and community leaders.
The proposal comes a day after the 15th annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester and two days after a yet-to-be-identified 19-year-old man was shot and killed when an afternoon fight broke out at Dorchester’s Savin Hill T stop.
Saturday’s killing was the city’s ninth homicide — and second teen victim — of the year. Boston’s overall murder figure is down, compared to this point last year.
Earlier: