State Representative Aaron Michlewitz has filed legislation that would create a statewide gun offender registry list that would be accessible to the public. The legislation is modeled on similar systems in Baltimore and New York that require defendants convicted of specified gun crimes to register their addresses with the police, verify them every six months, and notify the police if they change their addresses for a period of time following their conviction or period of incarceration.
“When it comes to gun crimes it is crucial that we do everything we can to try to prevent repeat offenders from committing more acts of violence against the public.â€, said Representative Michlewitz. “With this legislation we hope to make an effort to bring gun crimes down and keep the public informed as much as possible.â€
Studies indicate that people who carry illegal guns pose a higher risk of recidivism. The legislation is modeled after Megan’s Laws, which have proven to be an effective enforcement tool against sex offenders.
The Massachusetts Legislature began the 2015-2016 Legislative Session in January. In the coming weeks and months legislation will be given committee assignments, and public hearing dates. If anyone has further questions on the specifics of this or other pieces of legislation or the legislative process, please contact Representative Michlewitz at 617-722-2240 or [email protected] .