This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

GOAL: Gun-Related Homicides, Assaults are Up Due to Failure of State Gun Control Laws

Gun Owner's Action League of Massachusetts (GOAL) points to latest statistics released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as sign of failure for state gun control laws.

Rebecca Kearney, Neighbor
|

According to the latest statistics released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s, Weapon Related Injury Surveillance System, gun-related homicides are up by 100 percent, and gun related assaults are up nearly 300 percent, since the landmark gun control legislation was signed into law in 1998. Gun Owner's Action League of Massachusetts (GOAL) highlighted the following statistics to demonstrate its assertion:

  • In 1998, there were 63 gun related homicides. As of the latest 2010 ISP report, there were 126 gun related homicides, up 100 percent from 1998.
  • In 1998, there were 96 gun related assaults that resulted in a Hospital Discharge. In 2010 there were 267 up nearly 300 percent since the Gun Control Act was passed.

“These figures, combined with our broken licensing system, show a clear need for a complete reform of the Commonwealth’s gun laws,” says Jim Wallace, GOAL’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working with our legislators to restore common sense reform that protects our Second Amendment civil rights while improving public safety. We know we can accomplish both.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Winchester