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5tratcgics Inr Rcducing Gun Vin!cncc in thc
Cnmmnnwca!th nI Massachusctts




A Reorl lo Seaker of lhe House of Reresenlalives
Roberl DeLeo






y
Commillee lo Reduce Iirearm VioIence


















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Intrnductinn

Chargc by Thc Hnnnrab!c Rnbcrt A. DcLcn, 5pcakcr nI thc Hnusc nI Rcprcscntativcs,
Cnmmnnwca!th nI Massachusctts

On March 28, 2013 lhe Advisory Commillee mel vilh Seaker DeLeo and his slaff lo receive his
charge lo lhe commillee. The Seaker asked lhal lhe commillee reviev lhe various ieces of
IegisIalion lhal had been fiIed by lhe Governor, Reresenlalives Linsky, Naughlon, Ielerson
and olhers. The Seaker loId lhe commillee lhal il vas his oinion lhal lhe CommonveaIlh
currenlIy had slrong Iavs lo reduce gun vioIence, bul he vanled lhe commillee lo Iook for vays
roosed IegisIalion or oIicies in lhe CommonveaIlh couId be imroved. The Seaker loId lhe
commillee lhal nolhing vas off lhe labIe and lhe commillee couId Iook inlo any roosaIs
lhal mighl decrease gun vioIence, incIuding roosaIs lhal mighl caII for addilionaI revenue.

Cnmmittcc Mcmbcrs and Prnccss

The Seaker aoinled a grou of dislinguished individuaIs lo lhe Commillee. rief
biograhies for each member are incIuded in lhe Aendix lo lhis reorl. The members of lhe
commillee reresenl a broad range of exerlise. The commillee incIuded Iicensed gun ovners
and non-gun ovners, individuaIs vilh significanl exerlise vorking vilh lhe IegisIalure
incIuding drafling IegisIalion, individuaIs vilh exlensive exerlise vilh lhe CommonveaIlh's
menlaI heaIlh syslem incIuding issues of rivacy and confidenliaIily, individuaIs vilh exlensive
exerience in gun safely and gun Iicensing in lhe CommonveaIlh, Ieaders vilh subslanliaI
exerience in schooI adminislralion and schooI vioIence, as veII as individuaIs vilh exlensive
exerience in Iav enforcemenl as oIice chiefs, roseculors and defense allorneys.

The commillee mel more lhan 15 limes over lhe 9 monlh eriod belveen March 28, 2013 and
lhe end of December 2013. We soke vilh reresenlalives of 10 differenl grous (see aendix
for Iisling of reresenlalive grous), and individuaI commillee members allended olher evenls,
researched olher slale Iavs and reguIalions, revieved academic Iileralure and mass media
arlicIes, and conducled individuaI inlervievs lo Iearn more aboul vays lo reduce gun vioIence
in lhe CommonveaIlh.

No member of lhis commillee received any comensalion for serving. AIlhough lhe commillee
members refIecl many differenl vievs on gun vioIence, lhe rocess served as a modeI for hov
conversalion aboul lhis difficuIl loic can be conducled in a lhoughlfuI and reseclfuI manner.
Iach commillee member resecled lhe erseclives of olher members, lhis reorl is lhe very
osilive oulcome of lhis rocess.

In deciding on lhis finaI sel of recommendalions lhe commillee slrove for unanimily. Our
raclice vas lhal if any member couId nol suorl a arlicuIar recommendalion, ve vouId nol
ul lhal recommendalion forvard. In lhis vay ve beIieve ve are ulling forlh a slrong reorl
lhal is fuIIy suorled by each member of lhe commillee
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5trcngth nI Gun Laws:
Massachusells aIready has some of lhe slrongesl gun Iavs in lhe nalion. Ior examIe, over lhe
Iasl fev years lhe rady Cenler ranked Massachusells 3
rd
among US slales in lerms of slrenglh
of our gun Iavs. I n December 2013, a year afler Nevlovn, vilh olher slales assing nev Iavs,
lhe rady Cenler ranked Massachusells 6lh.

Ratc nI Hnuschn!d Gun Owncrship:
Massachusells aIso has among lhe Iovesl rales of househoId firearm ovnershi. TyicaIIy
some 13% of Massachusells househoIds reorl having a gun, comared lo aboul 1/3 nalionaIIy.
We are usuaIIy 3
rd
Iovesl among slales, vilh onIy Havaii and somelimes Nev }ersey having
Iover ercenlages of househoIds conlaining guns.

Ratc nI Ovcra!! Gun Dcath in thc Cnmmnnwca!th:
Massachusells has very Iov reIalive rales of gun dealh. Irom 2001-2010, for examIe, ve had
lhe 2
nd
Iovesl rale among lhe 50 US slales (TabIe 1). OnIy Havaii had a Iover rale. In lhal firsl
decade of lhe 21
sl
cenlury, over 306,000 Americans died from gunshol voundsmore lhan lhe
lolaI number of American combal dealhs during WorId War II--a rale of 10.3/100,000. In
Massachusells, 2,179 eoIe died from gunshol vounds, a rale of 3.4/100,000. In olher vords,
lhe resl of America has over lhree limes lhe gun dealh rale as do eoIe in Massachusells. SliII,
over lvo lhousand eoIe in Massachusells died as lhe resuIl of gunfire during lhe mosl recenl
decade.
5uicidc
In lhe Uniled Slales, lhere are far more suicides lhan homicides, lhere are aIso more gun
suicides lhan gun homicides. Mosl suicides are gun suicides and an even higher
ercenlage of homicides are commilled vilh guns. The scienlific evidence is
overvheIming lhal a gun in lhe home subslanliaIIy increases lhe risk lhal someone in
lhe home viII die of suicide. The Iarge ma|orily of lhose dying from gun suicides are
IegaI gun ovners and lheir famiIies. Massachusells, vilh fev guns, has lhe Iovesl rale
of firearm suicide in lhe nalion and a very average rale of non-firearm suicide. We have
lhe lhird Iovesl slale rale of overaII suicide (Nev }ersey and Nev York are Iover).
Hnmicidc
Massachusells has very Iov rales of gun homicide comared lo olher urban slales. The
resl of lhe Uniled Slales has 2.5 limes lhe gun homicide rale as Massachusells.
Hovever, since crime in lhe US is IargeIy an urban issue, ruraI slales, incIuding Maine,
Vermonl and Nev Hamshire, consislenlIy have Iover rales of homicide and gun
homicide lhan Massachusells. A ma|or robIem for Massachusells is lhal unIike guns
used in suicide or accidenls, vhich are guns oblained and ovned IegaIIy, crime guns
move from slales vilh veak gun Iavs (e.g., Nev Hamshire) lo slales Iike
Massachusells, vilh slrong Iavs. Ior examIe, some 60% of crime guns used in oslon
vere originaIIy urchased oulside of Massachusells. Nev Hamshire is a rime source
of gun lrafficking inlo oslon.
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Accidcnts
Over six lhousand Americans vere uninlenlionaIIy kiIIed vilh firearms from 2001-2010.
Massachusells has one of lhe Iovesl rales of uninlenlionaI firearm dealh in lhe nalion
(onIy Havaii and Rhode IsIand may be Iover), 24 eoIe in Massachusells vere
uninlenlionaIIy kiIIed vilh a firearm in lhal decade.

Nnn-Iata! Gun In|urics
Massachusells aIso has Iover rales of non-falaI firearm in|uries lhan is average for lhe resl of lhe
Uniled Slales. HosilaI discharge dala for 2010, for examIe, indicale lhal Massachusells
residenls are haIf as IikeIy as residenls of olher slales lo be vounded (TabIe 2).

Othcr EIIccts:
The cosls of gun vioIence are enormous. They incIude nol onIy lhe ain, suffering, disabiIily
and ossibIe dealh lo lhe viclim, bul affecl lhe viclim's famiIy and friends. The shorl and Iong-
lerm medicaI cosls can be Iarge, arlicuIarIy for sinaI cord and lraumalic brain in|uries. Ior
assauIls, lhe shooler and his famiIy may be affecled, eseciaIIy if lhe shooler is incarceraled.
Sociely bears aII lhe cosls of criminaI Iav enforcemenl, incIuding oIice, dislricl allorneys,
|udges, aroIe officers and risons. Mosl imorlanlIy, lhe communily can be affecled by gun
assauIls as residenls are afraid lo go oul, businesses do nol vanl lo move in, and many
vilnesses lo gun vioIence become lraumalized.

Massachusells is doing veII comared lo olher US slales in lerms of gun dealhs and in|uries.
We couId do bellerone reason ve knov lhis is lhal mosl olher firsl-vorId counlries have
slronger gun Iavs, fever guns er caila, and fever gun dealhs er caila lhan Massachusells.
Ior examIe, in 2004, lhe lolaI gun dealh rale for lhe olher lvo-dozen high-income counlries
vas 1.4/100,000. The Massachusells rale vas 3.2.

Tab!c 1 Vin!cnt Dcath in thc Unitcd 5tatcs 2001-2010
2001-2010 Massachusell
s
Uniled
Slales
Ratc Ratin (U5/MA)
Number Rale/100,000 Number Rale/100,000
Gun 5uicidc 1,094 1.7 175,221 5.9 3.5
Non-Gun
Suicide
3,709 5.8 162,822 5.5 0.9
AII Suicide 4,803 7.5 338,043 11.4 1.5

Gun
Hnmicidc
1,020 1.6 119,246 4.0 2.5
Non-Gun
Homicide
822 1.3 59,731 2.0 1.5
AII Homicide 1,842 2.9 178,977 6.0 2.1

Unintcntinn 24 0.04 6,739 0.23 5.8
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a! Gun
Dcath

Tnta! Gun
Dcath
2,179 3.4 306,946 10.3 3.0
Source: CDC WISQARS hll://vvv.cdc.gov/in|ury/visqars/falaI_in|ury_reorls.hlmI.


Tab!c 2 Hnspita! Dischargcs Inr Fircarm In|urics in thc Unitcd 5tatcs 2010
2010 Massachusell
s
Uniled
Slales
Ratc Ratin
(U5/MA)
Number Rale/100,000 Number Rale/100,000
5c!I-
InI!ictcd
28 0.4 3,590 1.2 2.7
Assau!t 316 4.8 25,730 8.3 1.7
Accidcnts 44 0.7 8,619 2.8 4.2
Undelermine
d
9 0.14 1,876 0.6 4.4
Tnta! 397 6.1 39,815 12.9 2.1
Source: HUCI-Nel hll://hcunel.ahrq.gov/.





















Findings nI thc Cnmmittcc

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Prcvcnt Unsuitab!c Pcrsnns Irnm Acquiring Fircarms.

Currenl Massachusells Iav does much lo rohibil unsuilabIe ersons from acquiring firearms,
bul lhe Commillee beIieves lhal lhe currenl syslem couId be imroved. The currenl rocess
aIIovs IocaI Iav enforcemenl officiaIs some discrelion lo delermine if an individuaI is suilabIe
lo be granled a Iicense lo carry. In Massachusells lhe currenl Iicensing syslem is confusing lo
many and causes IocaI oIice officiaIs lo send exlra efforl deciding on lhe lye of Iicense lhal is
aroriale. The commillee recognizes lhal lhere have been many comIainls lhal lhe Iack of
secific suilabiIily slandards has made lhe aIicalion rocess inconsislenl lhroughoul lhe
municiaIilies in Massachusells. The commillee aIso beIieves lhal Iacing a definilion of
suilabiIily in slalule viII nol rovide lhe necessary fIexibiIily and discrelion needed in aIIoving
lhe Iicensing aulhorily lo make a reasoned decision.

The Commillee recommends lhal lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice Associalion in
con|unclion vilh lhe Massachusells Gun ConlroI Advisory oard secify a sel of faclors
vhich defines vhal conslilules a suilabIe erson for gun ovnershi and oblaining a gun
Iicense.
The Commillee recommends lhal lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice Associalion
deveIo and circuIale a sel of guideIines for suilabiIily among lhe Chiefs of IoIice vilhin
lhe CommonveaIlh and resenl lheir finaI recommendalions lo lhe Massachusells Gun
ConlroI Advisory oard. Uon deIiberalion lhe Massachusells Gun ConlroI Advisory
oard shaII recommend lheir findings lo lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely lo be
adoled as adminislralive guideIines.

E!iminatinn nI thc C!ass B Liccnsc.
Currenl Massachusells Iav rovides for bolh a CIass A and a CIass Iicense. The CIass
Iicense aIIovs lhe Iicensee lo carry a non-Iarge caacily firearm, and lhal firearm may nol be
conceaIed, vhiIe a CIass A License aIIovs lhe Iicensee lo carry a conceaIed firearm for
roleclion. Massachusells is nol a slale vhere Iicensees roulineIy carry lheir firearms on lheir
hi in lhe oen. As a resuIl, onIy a smaII number of CIass Iicenses are issued in any given
year. The CIass Iicense serves no raclicaI urose and shouId be eIiminaled.

The Commillee recommends lhe eIiminalion of lhe CIass Iicense.


Fircarms IdcntiIicatinn Cards inc!udcd in thc dcIinitinn nI suitabi!ity.

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Currenl Massachusells Iav sels aramelers for lhose vho vish lo carry a handgun or ossess a
rifIe or sholgun. eyond lhose aramelers, hovever, a Chief of IoIice may deny a Iicense lo
carry lo someone lhal he finds unsuilabIe. No such aIIovance exisls for a firearms
idenlificalion card. As a resuIl, a erson vho may have been arresled numerous limes vilhoul
having been convicled musl be granled a firearms idenlificalion card. AIong vilh lhe
recommendalion of cIearer suilabiIily slandards eIaboraled above,

The Commillee recommends lhe incIusion of lhe same suilabiIily slandards as a Iicense
lo carry for firearm idenlificalion cards.

Nn Iurthcr rcstrictinns nn magazinc capacity.

The Commillee recommends lhal no furlher reslriclion be Iaced uon firearm magazine
caacily. Currenl Massachusells Iav reslricls Iarge caacily magazines lo 10 rounds. The
Commillee beIieves lhe currenl reslriclion slrikes a reasonabIe baIance belveen ubIic safely
and ersonaI Iiberly.


Thc nincty (90) day !iccnsc rcncwa! prnccss.

The commillee vas informed aboul an adminislralive bollIeneck lhal has deveIoed in lhe
rocessing of firearm Iicense renevaIs. The municiaIilies and lhe CommonveaIlh exerience
difficuIly in rocessing Iicense renevaIs vilhin lhe 90 day exiralion eriod. One consislenl
concern of gun ovners, vho soke lo lhe commillee, vas lhal lhe rocess for reneving exisling
Iicenses is excessiveIy deIayed. The commillee heard of many cases, vhere resonsibIe gun
ovners inilialed lhe renevaI rocess monlhs before lheir Iicense vas lo renev, bul lhe
CommonveaIlh faiIed lo issue a renevaI before lheir Iicense exired. The Commillee soke lo
officiaIs from lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely, vho exIained lhal lhis vas a somevhal
unique silualion, due in arl lo lhe facl lhal so many Iicense renevaIs come due in lhe same
monlh. These officiaIs assured lhe commillee lhal lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely vas
avare of lhe robIem, and vere vorking on vays lo reduce lhese excessive deIays.

The Commillee recommends a simIe change in lhe Iav lhal viII kee lhe Iicense vaIid
unliI lhe aIicalion is re-aroved or denied by lhe CommonveaIlh. A simIe
revording of lhe Iav lo read in lhe aroriale seclions lhal a firearm idenlificalion
card or a Iicense lo carry a firearm shaII be vaIid, unIess revoked or susended, for a
eriod of nol more lhan 6 years from lhe dale of issue, excel lhal if lhe cardhoIder or
Iicense hoIder aIied for renevaI before lhe card or Iicense exired, lhe card or Iicense
shaII remain vaIid afler lhe exiralion dale on lhe card or Iicense, unliI lhe aIicalion
for renevaI is aroved or denied. y eIiminaling lhe 90 day eriod lhe onus is ul
back on lhe governmenl lo erform ils bureaucralic duly. The Commillee aIso
recommends lhal more musl be done lo exedile lhe rocess of gun Iicense renevaI and
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lhal lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely shouId assign addilionaI slaff lo handIe lhe
exisling backIog in Iicense renevaIs. This shouId incIude lhe ugrade of Iav
enforcemenl comuler syslems so lhey have access lo Ialesl lechnoIogy.
The Commillee endorses a roosaI by lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice for a change
in lhe Iav lhal rovides for a vorkabIe civiI enaIly for an exired Iicense or an exired
firearm idenlificalion card.


Imprnvcd and cnnsistcnt Iircarm saIcty and training rcquircd tn nbtain a !iccnsc.
In leslimony rovided lo lhe commillee, lhe commillee members heard lhal lhere is a vide
varialion in lhe quaIily of firearms lraining courses. Some courses slress firearm safely, and
incIude a required Iive shooling comonenl, vhiIe olhers require no Iive fire lraining, and
send much Iess lime on gun safely issues.
The Commillee recommends lhe deveIomenl and imIemenlalion of firearms lraining
consislenl vilh exisling Iicensing slandards, and nev suilabiIily guideIines deveIoed
by lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice Associalion and lhe Massachusells Gun ConlroI
Advisory oard. This lraining shouId require aIicanls lo comIele a firearm safely
course lhal conlains an exlensive Iive fire comonenl. Currenl safely cIasses are nol
required lo incIude Iive fire.
The Commillee aIso recommends lhal lhis firearm safely course be slandardized and
accrediled, vhiIe requiring a number of comonenls. These comonenls shouId incIude
safe handIing of firearms, Iive fire, safe slorage of firearms, and a cIear underslanding of
Massachusells firearms Iav. We aIso recommend lhal lhe firearm safely course incIude
a moduIe on suicide. The Commillee recommends lhal lhis course shouId be designed,
based uon lhe recommendalions of lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice Associalion and
lhe Massachusells Gun ConlroI Advisory oard. The Commillee recommends lhal lhe
Massachusells Gun ConlroI Advisory oard recommend lhe aroriale reguIalions
eslabIishing lhis rocedure lo lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely.









Estab!ish cnnsistcncy with Fcdcra! and amnng 5tatc Laws.
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Some Massachusells firearms Iavs run conlrary lo IederaI Lav and some slale reguIalions.
These inconsislencies are confusing lo IavfuI gun ovners and oIice officers. These
inconsislencies musl be eIiminaled. Ior examIe some Massachusells residenls can have lheir
righl lo ossess a firearm idenlificalion card reslored, if five years have assed foIIoving a
feIony conviclion. This rovision runs conlrary lo federaI Iav, vhich rohibils a convicled feIon
from ossessing a firearm.
The Commillee recommends lhal lhe Iav shouId be changed lo revenl a convicled
feIon from receiving a firearms idenlificalion card.
Massachusells Iicensing aulhorily shouId deny any federaIIy rohibiled erson from
acquiring any firearm.
There are currenlIy lvo searale Iisls of aroved firearms in Massachusells. The
Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely's aroved veaons rosler eslabIished by Iav and lhe
Allorney GeneraI's consumer roleclion reguIalions eslabIished under adminislralive
ruIes and reguIalions. This is confusing lo oIice chiefs, officers, gun deaIers, and lhe
gun ovner. The Commillee recommends lhal lhe Allorney GeneraI's Iisl and lhe
Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely Iisl be made consislenl.

Lcga! Gun Owncrs

Mosl gun ovners buy lheir guns IegaIIy, kee guns roerIy secured in lheir homes and nolify
officiaIs vhen lheir gun is Iosl sloIen or soId. These gun ovners do lhis, nol onIy because il is
lhe Iav, bul because lhey beIieve il is hov resonsibIe gun ovner shouId behave. Il became
cIear lo lhe commillee lhal many of lhese resonsibIe gun ovners feeI lhey are being unfairIy
IabeIed as conlribuling lo gun vioIence as lhe debale aboul IegisIalive changes lo our slales gun
Iavs become increasingIy oIarized.

UnforlunaleIy some gun ovners do nol acl in resonsibIe vays. They do nol secure lheir guns
in lheir homes and do nol reorl lo aulhorilies vhen lheir guns are Iosl, sloIen or soId. Il is from
lhese ovners lhal guns gel inlo lhe iIIegaI hands. Our recommendalions are inlended lo lighlen
lhe aIready slrong gun IegisIalion in Massachusells, and are direcled lovard lhose irresonsibIe
gun ovners, vho do nol foIIov lhe CommonveaIlh Iavs and reguIalions.


Rcducing Gun TraIIicking

The Commillee vas informed lhal vhiIe Massachusells Iav currenlIy requires aII rivale
firearm lransaclions lo be reorled lo lhe Slale lhrough lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely
and Securily, some number of lransaclions are never reorled. Guns lransferred in rivale
unreorled lransaclions have been imIicaled in a series of gun crimes lhrough ATI lracing
records. The commillee vas aIso loId of cases vhere guns used in a crime vere lraced back lo
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an ovner vho had never noliced lhal lheir gun vas missing. The commillee beIieves lhal
Massachusells can do more lo imrove documenlalion of guns lransferred in lhe secondary
markel.

The Commillee recommends lhal lhe Iav shouId be changed lo require background
checks for aII secondary rivale firearms saIes and lhal lhese saIes and checks shouId be
comIeled lhrough a Iicensed firearm deaIer. The commillee recognizes lhal exemlions
may be necessary lo lhis IegisIalion (e.g. guns urchased before 1999)
The Commillee recommends an increase in civiI enaIlies for faiIure lo reorl a Iosl or
sloIen firearm and lhe addilion of criminaI enaIlies for lhird or subsequenl offenses.
The Commillee recommends lhe requiremenl lhal records of firearm saIes from defuncl
firearm deaIers be lransmilled lo lhe Ixeculive Office of IubIic Safely as veII as lo ATI.
The Commillee recommends lhal uon Iicense renevaI each gun ovner in lhe
CommonveaIlh verify and sign an affidavil lhal he or she sliII ovns aII lhe guns IegaIIy
regislered lo lhem.
The Commillee recommends lhal aII emIoyees of firearm deaIers ass a background
check
Since many crime guns are lrafficked inlo Massachusells and vilhin Massachusells, lhe
Commillee recommends lhal aII crime guns be roulineIy lraced, and lhal lhe dala from
lhese lraces be shared vilh criminoIogy, ubIic oIicy and ubIic heaIlh researchers and
vilh olher Iav enforcemenl agencies.


Mandatnry stnragc nI Iircarms.

Massachusells Iav is cIear on lhe safe slorage of firearms. The Commillee vhoIehearledIy
endorses safe slorage. VirluaIIy every gun begins as a IegaI gun, in lhe hands of someone vho
assed a background check. A ma|or vay guns gel inlo iIIegaI hands is lhrough gun lhefl. To
heI revenl criminaIs from oblaining firearms, as veII as lo reduce gun accidenls and suicide,
Massachusells Iav currenlIy requires lhe safe slorage of handguns, and aIready rovides a lax
incenlive (e.g., no saIes lax on gun safes) lo secure guns safeIy.

The commillee recommends an addilionaI financiaI incenlive be considered, such as a
lax credil for lhe urchase of a gun safe. Massachusells gun ovners shouId have no
reason nol lo obey lhe Massachusells slale's safe slorage Iav.
The commillee does nol suorl IegisIalion lhal firearms onIy be slored al gun ranges as
many ranges are nol equied lo slore veaons






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Mcasurcs tn imprnvc schnn! saIcty

Massachusells schooIs are generaIIy safe, as are schooIs lhroughoul our nalion. ul given lhe
facl lhal vioIence does occur on an exlraordinariIy rare basis, lhe degree lo vhich such vioIence
causes anxiely in our communilies, among arenls of schooI chiIdren and sludenls lhemseIves,
caIIs for lhe deveIomenl of rograms lhal enhance schooI safely and miligale anxiely..

SchooIs are required lo have safely Ians, hovever, such Ians shouId be more comrehensive
and deveIoed in coIIaboralion vilh schooI officiaIs, oIice, arenls, communily agencies, and
IocaI fire dearlmenls. Iffeclive Ians embrace besl raclices lhal meel defined slandards. The
Secrelary of Iducalion, aIong vilh lhe Commissioners of IarIy Learning, IIemenlary and
Secondary Iducalion, and Higher Iducalion, shouId be caIIed uon, vilh members of lheir
Iearning communilies, lo deveIo rolocoIs for revieving SchooI Safely IIans, lhus assuring lhe
generaI ubIic lhal every SchooI Safely IIan lhroughoul lhe CommonveaIlh has been revieved
and meels eslabIished slandards.

Slandards:
Iffeclive Ians have slrong communicalion belveen schooIs and emergency ersonneI. Al lhe
forefronl of any effeclive Ian shouId be guaranlees lhal lhe Iines of communicalion are oen
belveen schooI officiaIs and IocaI oIice and fire dearlmenls. In addilion lo lheir |oinl
deveIomenl of a coIIaboralive safely Ian, Ians shouId embrace mechanisms lo kee Iines of
communicalion oen in cases of any emergency need. SchooI ersonneI shouId have immediale
access lo oIice or fire. One olion mighl be lhe urchase of schooI radios vilh a frequency for
lvo-vay communicalion lo oIice and fire. Used onIy in case of an emergency, lhe
communicalion channeI viII aIIov for u-lo-dale informalion aboul any incidenl vilh ongoing
communicalion belveen schooI officiaIs and emergency ersonneI lhroughoul any emergency
silualion.

Iffeclive Ians incIude robusl menlaI heaIlh services and suorls. MenlaI heaIlh services
need lo be exanded in our schooIs. There is a need for more schooI sociaI vorkers and menlaI
heaIlh rofessionaIs vorking in coIIaboralion vilh our schooIs. There shouId aIso be more
oorlunily for lroubIed youlh lo receive limeIy heI and assislance for lheir concerns-- lo
revenl an individuaI's robIem from becoming a ma|or socielaI robIem

Iffeclive Ians have embraced Communily IoIicing slralegies. Al lhe schooI IeveI, use of SchooI
Resource Officers (SROs) is an olion lhal can bridge lhe needs of lhe schooIs and communily
vilh generaI condilions of safely and order. Any SRO shouId be aoinled |oinlIy belveen lhe
Chief of IoIice and lhe Suerinlendenl of SchooIs. To be effeclive, SROs become arl of lhe
schooI cuIlure and arliciale in schooI rofessionaI deveIomenl aclivilies and olher reIevanl
educalionaI lrainings. SROs shouId foIIov lhe direclive of lhe Suerinlendenl or designee
reIalive lo issues of schooI disciIine, and lhe Iav reIalive lo any feIonious mallers. Il's essenliaI
lhal lhe SRO is acceled as a member of lhe schooI communily, and embraces lhe concel lhal
schooIs are Iearning communilies vhere mislakes are made and behaviors are modified vilh
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lhe underslanding lhal lhe degree lo vhich lradilionaI oIicing overs are aIied is done so in
consuIlalion vilh lhe Suerinlendenl or designee. Nol aII oIice officers can be successfuI
SROs, lhe seIeclion and lraining of lhese officers is cruciaI. The erformance of aII SROs shouId
be revieved annuaIIy.

Iffeclive IIans have slaff educalion rograms in Iace. AII slaff shouId be arised of
emergency rocedures in any schooI safely Ian. Time shouId be laken al adminislralive
meelings lhroughoul lhe year lo reviev emergency and safely rocedures. Iroaclive rograms
such as Advisor/Advisee and Oen CircIe shouId be exIored for adolion, lhus increasing aII
slaff members' abiIily lo assisl sludenls vilh robIems vhen lhey begin and before lhey grov.
In addilion lo slandard fire driIIs, evacualion driIIs shouId be conducled lhal re-roule sludenls
from lradilionaI exil roules, lhus emuIaling more need lo be lhinking vhen exiling vhiIe
slaying safe from a robIem lhal may exisl aIong a slandard evacualion roule.

The Commillee recommends lhal Secrelary of Iducalion convene a vorking commillee
lo deveIo slandardized rolocoIs for SchooI Safely IIans for eIemenlary, secondary and
osl secondary schooIs in lhe CommonveaIlh. The rolocoIs viII incIude a rocess of
eslabIishing schooI syslem baseIine, rocess for reviev and annuaI assessmenl
The Commillee recommends lhal lhese rolocoIs incIude rocedures for communicalion
vilh firsl resonders, emergency driIIs, and slrong engagemenl vilh roviders of
menlaI heaIlh/subslance abuse services.
The Commillee recommends lhal schooI's syslems shouId have SchooI Resource Officers
(SROs). SROs musl be |oinlIy aoinled by lhe SchooI Suerinlendenl and IoIice Chief.
Aoinlmenl cannol be made soIeIy on seniorily. These osilions are unique and
require a seciaI skiII of a oIice officer vorking in a Iearning/educalionaI communily.
The Slale shouId consider roviding arliaI funding for SROs.
The Commillee recommends lhal schooIs musl deveIo a comrehensive menlaI heaIlh
suorl Ian as arl of lheir core safely Ian. A menlaI heaIlh suorl Ians is nol |usl
for emergencies, bul lo rovide suorl and assislance lo sludenls, leachers,
adminislralors and famiIies The commillee does nol endorse one secific modeI, lhere
are severaI evidence based and romising raclices incIuding bul nol Iimiled lo MenlaI
HeaIlh Iirsl Aid, Trauma Sensilive SchooIs and olhers.
The Commillee recommends lhal each schooI shouId have access lo lvo vay
communicalion lo municiaI oIice on lhe Cily/lovns frequency onIy for use in
emergency silualions
The Commillee recommends lhal granl rograms for iniliaI lraining shouId be
deveIoed for lhe exansion of advisor/advisee rograms in schooIs
The Commillee recommends doubIing lhe enaIly for ossessing an
unaulhorized firearm on schooI grounds from one lo lvo years and making lhis
offense a slalulory righl of arresl.


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Vin!cncc, Mcnta! I!!ncss and 5ubstancc Abusc

The commillee urges lhal any IegisIalive changes nol furlher sligmalize individuaIs vilh menlaI
disorders nor oslracize individuaIs from seeking lrealmenl and services. MenlaI disorders, of
vhich deression is lhe mosl common, affecls nearIy 1 in 10 American aduIls. elveen 3 5%
of vioIenl acls commilled in lhe US are allribuled lo individuaIs vilh serious menlaI iIIness,
mosl of lhese acls do nol incIude guns. Desile lhe ubIic ercelion of menlaI iIIness,
individuaIs vilh menlaI disorders are 11 limes more al risk of being viclims ralher lhan
erelralors of vioIence. Ividence based research oinls lo lhe foIIoving grous of individuaIs
are al heighlened risk of fulure vioIence: individuaIs convicled of a vioIenl misdemeanor,
individuaIs sub|ecl lo a lemorary domeslic vioIence reslraining order, individuaIs convicled of
lvo or more DWI/DUIs in a eriod of five years, and individuaIs convicled of lvo or more
misdemeanor crimes invoIving a conlroIIed subslance in a eriod of five years.

Hovever, lhe NalionaI Inslanl ackground Check Syslems Imrovemenl Acl of 2007 requires
slales lo lransmil lo lhe NalionaI Inslanl ackground Check Syslem (NICS) records vilh resecl
lo (i) ersons vho are unIavfuI users of or are addicled lo a conlroIIed subslance as
demonslraled by arresls, conviclions and ad|udicalions and (ii) ersons vho have been
ad|udicaled as a menlaI defeclive or commilled lo a menlaI inslilulion. Massachusells is nol
in comIiance vilh currenl federaI reorling requiremenls. The Commillee beIieves lhal onIy
individuaIs vho are drug deendenl, subslance abusers or have menlaI iIIness based uon a
|udiciaI finding of eilher subslance abuse or menlaI iIIness and a IikeIihood of serious harm
shouId be reorled lo NCIS. IndividuaIs vho seek voIunlary lrealmenl or are invoIunlariIy
hosilaIized for assessmenl and evaIualion shouId nol be reorled. Ad|udicalions are lo be
reorled by lhe TriaI Courl lo CHS for lransmission of lhe informalion lo NICS.


The Commillee Recommends (See Aendix C for a summary of Massachusells
slalulory commilmenl rovisions ) :
ring Massachusells inlo comIiance vilh lhe NICS Imrovemenl Acl, a dala base of
faclors vhich disquaIify a erson from ovning a gun .
MGL ch 123 s 36(b) shouId be amended lo ermil lransmission of ad|udicalions under
Chaler 123 lo be reorl lo CHS for lransmission lo NICS
IndividuaIs ad|udicaled for subslance abuse under MGL ch. 123 s. 35 shouId be reorled
lo CHS for lransmission lo NCIS.
InvoIunlary commilmenls under MGL ch 123 seclions 7&8, 16(b), 16(c) and 18 shouId be
reorled lo CHS for lransmission lo NICS.
MGL seclions 12(b) and 12(e) shouId be amended lo cIarify lhal lhese admissions are for
evaIualion, nol vilhslanding lhe facl lhal lhe individuaI may accel lrealmenl.
CHS's slalule shouId be revieved and amended if necessary lo aulhorize il lo lransmil
dala lo NICS and lo rovide lhe menlaI heaIlh and subslance abuse records reorl lo il
by lhe TriaI Courl are nol ubIic records sub|ecl lo discIosure.
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Oflen lhe eoIe vho are lhe mosl IikeIy lo idenlify a erson vho is a danger lo
lhemseIves or olhers are famiIy members vho reguIarIy inleracl vilh lhe individuaI.
The Commillee recommends lhal lhe slale consider a ubIic service camaign lhal
encourages famiIy members lo gel heI oblain serves for and remove firearms from lhe
homes of individuaIs vho may hurl lhemseIves or olhers due lo a ersonaI crises such
as a divorce, Ioss of emIoymenl or olher ersonaI crises.



Mcnta! Hca!th 5crviccs and 5chnn! 5uppnrts

The CommonveaIlh's ubIic menlaI heaIlh syslem has eroded over lhe asl len years, on a
reIalive basis, lhere vas more funding for ubIic menlaI heaIlh services in 2003 lhan in 2013. A
conlinuum of communily based services for youlh and aduIls, incIuding inlensive oulalienl
rograms, residenliaI, inalienl, and inlermediale care and evidenced based rograms such as
Irograms for Asserlive Communily Trealmenl, mobiIe Crisis Inlervenlion Teams, and eer
suorl services are Iacking.

Ior lhe firsl lime in lhirly years, menlaI, emolionaI and behavioraI heaIlh condilions have
disIaced hysicaI iIInesses, incIuding aslhma, as lhe lo five disabIing heaIlh condilions
affecling 8% of chiIdren and youlh in lhe Uniled Slales. These numbers suggesl lhal lhere musl
be a differenl aroach for earIy idenlificalion of chiIdren and youlh, suorling lhem and lheir
famiIies in receiving limeIy assessmenl and lrealmenl lhal faciIilale schooI success, and nol
schooI faiIure.

Underslanding lhe imorlance of suorling chiIdren vilh sociaI, emolionaI and behavioraI
disorders, lhe LegisIalure assed Chaler 321 of lhe Acls of 2008: An Acl ReIalive lo ChiIdren's
MenlaI HeaIlh. One of lhe rovisions vas lo bridge lhe menlaI heaIlh and educalionaI syslems
lo suorl youlh in lheir sociaI and emolionaI deveIomenl, in addilion lo educalionaI success.
This rovision has yel lo be reaIized


The Commillee recommends lhal lhe LegisIalure revisil and revise Chaler 321 of lhe
Acls of 2008 lo slrenglhen lhe rovisions of schooI based menlaI heaIlh services for
chiIdren and youlh.
The Commillee recommends increased funding for schooI based, comrehensive menlaI
heaIlh services lo romole earIy idenlificalion , assessmenl and suorl for chiIdren and
youlh vilh sociaI, emolionaI and behavioraI disorders lo be successfuI in educalionaI
sellings.




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Urban Vin!cncc

WhiIe schooI shoolings have received much allenlion, arlicuIarIy since lhe Nevlovn shooling
lhe commillee noles lhal more youlh, arlicuIarIy youlh of coIor are kiIIed in urban areas lhan
are ever kiIIed in schooIs. The commillee vas loId by urban Iav enforcemenl officiaIs lhal urban
gun vioIence vas oflen lhe resuIl of gang or drug aclivily. The commillee mel vilh Iav
enforcemenl Ieaders from a number of cilies in lhe CommonveaIlh and vas loId lhal lo combal
urban gun vioIence a comrehensive aroach vas necessary. The commillee vas loId lhal
increasing enaIlies for gun vioIence vas nol lhe ansver, bul lhal rograms had lo be ul in
Iace or exanded lo offer services lo al risk youlh in our cilies. The commillee vas aIso loId
lhal addressing onIy lhe youlh al risk for vioIence vas Iess effeclive lhan rograms lhal offer
services lo lhe youlh and his or her famiIy. The commillee vas loId of rograms such as IACT
and SSYI lhal are exceIIenl examIes of comrehensive aroaches lo reduce gun vioIence by
youlh. Lav enforcemenl Ieaders feIl lhal lhey had looIs lo deaI vilh lhe vioIence lhal vas
occurring bul lhey vere Iooking for vays lo revenl lhis vioIence from occurring al aII.




The Commillee Recommends consideralion of inveslmenls in lhe foIIoving areas

Increase funding for menlaI heaIlh and subslance use disorders resources in urban areas,
and vork vilh heaIlh Ians and heaIlh insurance comanies lo increase coverage of
menlaI heaIlh services for chiIdren, youlh and aduIls.
Increase funding for neighborhood oulreach vorkers, vho rovide services direclIy lo
al risk youlh lo decrease gun vioIence in urban areas.
Ixand lhe slalevide gun vioIence rograms lhal vorks vilh enlire famiIies lo reduce
gun vioIence
Increase funding for/exanded |ob rograms for leens in urban areas.
Increase funding/exand diversion rograms for |uveniIe offenders.
Increase funding /exand or creale more famiIy inlervenlion rograms for deIinquenl
leens/|uveniIes al risk.
Increase funding for earIy inlervenlion/vioIence revenlion rograms bul al earIier ages
9 or 10 years oId
Increase funding for dala coIIeclion and research


Cnnc!usinn

OveraII Massachusells conlinues lo be a Ieader nalionaIIy in efforls lo reduce gun vioIence. The
Commillee beIieves lhal even more can be done. The commillee conducled ils ovn research and
conducled conversalions vilh individuaIs vho hoId a vide variely of oinions on slralegies lhe
CommonveaIlh shouId adol. Al lhe end of lhis rocess, lhis reorl resenls 44 secific
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recommendalions for vays lo furlher reduce gun vioIence in lhe CommonveaIlh. The
Commillee recognizes lhal changes such as lhose roosed in lhis reorl may be chaIIenging,
bul if adoled, rovides a alhvay lo furlher reduce gun vioIence in lhe CommonveaIlh.












































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Aendix A

IROIISSIONAL ACKGROUNDS OI COMMITTII
The individuaIs aoinled lo lhis commillee have a greal deaI of exerlise in lheir
rofessionaI fieIds.
Chairman Dr. Jack McDcvitt is lhe Associale Dean for Research for lhe CoIIege of
SociaI Sciences and Humanilies al Norlheaslern Universily. }ack aIso direcls lhe
Inslilule on Race and }uslice and lhe Cenler for CriminaI }uslice IoIicy Research. }ack is
lhe co aulhor of lhree books !"#$ &'()$*+ ,-$ .(*(/0 ,(1$ 23 4(02#'5 "/1 46221*-$17 !"#$
&'()$ .$8(*(#$1+ 9)$'(:"/ ;"' 2/ ,-2*$ ;-2 9'$ <(33$'$/# (bolh vilh }ack Levin) and
=(:#()26205 (vilh }udy Sgarzy). He has aIso co-aulhored a number of reorls on hale
crime, raciaI rofiIing and human lrafficking incIuding a monograh for lhe US
Dearlmenl of }uslice on IocaI Iav enforcemenl exeriences vilh cases of human
lrafficking. He vas arl of a grou vho conducled a securily audil for lhe saIl Lake
Cily OIymics, lhe firsl osl 9/11 OIymics. He vas recenlIy aoinled by lhe Seaker
of lhe Massachusells House of Reresenlalives lo Chair a Gun VioIence Commission lo
make recommendalions on vays lo reduce gun vioIence in lhe CommonveaIlh. Over
lhis eriod he has ubIished numerous arlicIes on a vide variely loics in criminaI
|uslice. He has soken on hale crime, raciaI rofiIing human lrafficking and securily
bolh nalionaIIy and inlernalionaIIy and has leslified as an exerl vilness before lhe
}udiciary Commillees of The US House of Reresenlalives and as inviled exerl al lhe
While House.
Rnbcrt Ccrasn!i has a 42-year record of oulslanding ubIic service. He has rovided
ma|or conlribulions lo resonsibIe rofessionaI elhicaI conducl in lhe CommonveaIlh
of Massachusells, lhe Cily of Nev OrIeans, Louisiana, lhe nalionaI Inseclors GeneraI
communily, and in nine foreign nalions.
CerasoIi, a nalive of Quincy, Massachusells, received his acheIor of Arls in
Governmenl and IubIic Adminislralion in 1969 from The American Universily. In 1988,
CerasoIi received a Masler of IubIic Adminislralion from Harvard Universily. He is a
Cerlified Inseclor GeneraI (CIG), Cerlified Inseclor GeneraI Invesligalor (CIGI),
Cerlified Inseclor GeneraI Audilor (CIGA), Cerlified Iraud Ixaminer (CII), and
Cerlified Governmenl IinanciaI Manager (CGIM).
CerasoIi ossesses lhree decades of leaching exerience in elhics, audiling, oversighl,
financiaI managemenl, and anli-corrulion raclices. He has laughl courses al
ridgevaler Slale Universily, Iaslern Nazarene CoIIege, Nevbury CoIIege, Quincy
CoIIege, Nev Hamshire Communily TechnicaI CoIIege, and for lhe Associalion of
Inseclors GeneraI al American Universily in Washinglon, D. C., and }ohn }ay CoIIege
of CriminaI }uslice in Nev York Cily.
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CerasoIi combines leaching exerience vilh decades of raclicaI exerience in lhe fieId.
He served as a Reresenlalive in lhe Massachusells House of Reresenlalives from 1975
lo 1991. He served as lhe second Inseclor GeneraI for lhe Slale of Massachusells for
lvo five-year lerms, lhe maximum aIIoved by Iav, from 1991 lo 2001. The
Massachusells Inseclor GeneraI vas lhe firsl slalevide Inseclor GeneraI osilion
crealed in lhe U.S. and lhe firsl Inseclor GeneraI osilion crealed oulside of lhe federaI
syslem. He aIso served as lhe firsl Inseclor GeneraI of Nev OrIeans, Louisiana from
2007 lo 2009, vhere he sel u lhe office from lhe ground u afler Hurricane Kalrina.
As one of lhe originaI founders and charler members of lhe Associalion of Inseclors
GeneraI (AIG), CerasoIi IileraIIy vrole lhe bookhe roosed, deveIoed, and co-
aulhored lhe Cerlified Inseclor GeneraI (CIG) concel and lhe crealion of lhe
IrinciIes and Slandards for Offices of Inseclors GeneraI, caIIed lhe Green ook. This
book vas used as a basis for lhe crealion of lhe Inseclor GeneraI office in Nev OrIeans.


Dr. Pau! Dakin began his career as a rivale schooI leacher and adminislralor. In 1993,
afler nineleen years in rivale schooIs, he began vorking in ubIic schooIs and is
currenlIy in his lveIflh year as Suerinlendenl of lhe Revere IubIic SchooIs (RIS) in
Revere, MA. Dr. Dakin has chaired lhe oard of Direclors for lhe Norlh Shore
Consorlium for Slaff DeveIomenl and co-faciIilaled lhe Massachusells Urban
Suerinlendenls' Nelvork. He is aIso Iasl Iresidenl of lhe Massachusells Associalion of
SchooI Suerinlendenls. Throughoul his lenure he has resenled al numerous seminars
and slale conferences for lhe Massachusells Associalion of SchooI Suerinlendenls
(MASS), Mass Associalion of SchooI Commillees (MASC), lhe Associalion of SchooI
usiness OfficiaIs (ASO), Mass Insighl, Mass 2020, and mosl recenlIy al USDOI's
sring conference on CoIIaboraling lo Transform lhe Teaching Irofession in
Cincinnali, OH.
Dr. David Hcmcnway is an economisl and Irofessor al Harvard SchooI of IubIic
HeaIlh, vhere he has received len Harvard leaching avards, and a former }ames Marsh
Visiling Irofessor al Large al lhe Universily of Vermonl. He is Direclor of lhe Harvard
In|ury ConlroI Research Cenler and lhe Harvard Youlh VioIence Irevenlion Cenler. He
has received lhe IxceIIence in Science avard from lhe in|ury and vioIence seclion of lhe
American IubIic HeaIlh Associalion and feIIovshis from lhe Iev, Soros and Roberl
Wood }ohnson foundalions. In 2012 Hemenvay vas recognized by lhe Cenlers for
Disease ConlroI and Irevenlion as one of lhe lvenly mosl infIuenliaI in|ury and
vioIence rofessionaIs over lhe asl 20 years. Dr. Hemenvay has vrillen 175 |ournaI
arlicIes and is soIe aulhor of five books, incIuding Irivale Guns IubIic HeaIlh.
Dr. Jnhn Hcrman is Associale Chief in lhe Dearlmenl of Isychialry al MGH. He aIso
serves as MedicaI Direclor for Iarlners HeaIlhCare ImIoyee Assislance Irogram
serving more lhan 80,000 Iarlners emIoyees and lheir deendenls. In 2002, Dr.
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Herman vas aoinled lo lhe CommonveaIlh's oard of Regislralion in Medicine
vhere he served as ils Chairman from 2007- 2009, and vas aIso chairman of lhe MedicaI
oard's Ialienl QuaIily and lo Safely Commillee. Dr. Herman is asl-Iresidenl of lhe
American Associalion of Direclors of Isychialry Residency Training, and is a
Dislinguished IeIIov of lhe American Isychialric Associalion. Herman is aclive in
addressing lhe chaIIenge of Iimiled access lo menlaI heaIlh services, arlicuIarIy lhe ga
belveen lhe quaIily of menlaI heaIlh care deIivery in lhe communily and raidIy
acceIeraling advances in sychialric raclice.
ChicI Jamcs Hicks has been lhe Chief of IoIice for lhe Tovn of Nalick since 2011, and
lhe Iresidenl of lhe Massachusells Chiefs of IoIice Associalion since 2012. He aIso
serves as Chairman of lhe MuniciaI IoIice Training Commillee. He began his career in
Iav enforcemenl in 1984, serving on lhe randeis Camus IoIice Dearlmenl. Irior lo
his service in lhe Nalick IoIice Dearlmenl, Chief Hicks vas a member of lhe WaIlham
IoIice Dearlmenl from 1995 lo 2001, and Chief of IoIice in edford from 2001 lo 2011.
During his career he vas vorked on severaI vorking grous and commillees
lhroughoul lhe CommonveaIlh of Massachusells, incIuding serving as lhe Secrelary of
IubIic Safely's Working Grou on RaciaI IrofiIing. He has aIso lrained oIice cadels
and has laughl courses on CuIluraI Diversily, Hale Crimes, Reorl Wriling and
Courlesy lo lhe IubIic for lhe Massachusells CriminaI }uslice Training CounciI.
Mary!nu 5uddcrs is Associale Irofessor and chair of lhe MenlaI HeaIlh & HeaIlh
Irogram al oslon CoIIege's Graduale SchooI of SociaI Work, and aIso serves as a
menlaI heaIlh exerl for lhe U.S. Dearlmenl of }uslice. In 2012 she vas aoinled lo
lhe CommonveaIlh's HeaIlh IoIicy Commission, and aIso served as lhe
CommonveaIlh's Commissioner of MenlaI HeaIlh for seven years. She has leslified
before Congress on lhe issue of menlaI iIIness and criminaI |uslice. She is a founding
member of lhe ChiIdren's MenlaI HeaIlh Camaign. The reciienl of many avards,
Sudders vas honored vilh lhe NalionaI Associalion of SociaI Workers highesl nalionaI
avard for menlaI heaIlh oIicy and as sociaI vorker of lhe year by ils Massachusells
chaler.
RaIIi Ycssayan is a criminaI defense allorney vilh offices in Nev edford and Quincy,
MA. He aIso serves as one of lhe suervising allorneys for lhe NorfoIk Counly ar
Advocale rogram, reresenling lhe indigenl in criminaI roceedings. Irior lo
oening his raclice, Yessayan served as chief of lhe Gang Unil in lhe SuffoIk Counly
Dislricl Allorney's Office. In lhal osilion he vorked cIoseIy vilh Iav enforcemenl
agencies in idenlifying and roseculing vioIenl, reeal offenders and Ieclured
nalionaIIy on lhe issues of gangs, guns and crime revenlion slralegies. He is aIso lhe
co-crealor of lhe Underslanding VioIence fiIm and curricuIum, a revenlion inilialive
designed lo kee young eoIe from gelling invoIved vilh guns, drugs and gangs.
Lyndsay Thnmpsnn serves as Research Assislanl lo lhe Gun VioIence Advisory
Commillee, as arl of lhe Cenler for CriminaI }uslice IoIicy Research al Norlheaslern
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Universily. She is a graduale sludenl al Norlheaslern Universily and viII receive a
Maslers of Science in CriminoIogy and CriminaI }uslice in May 2014. Ms. Thomson
has rior rofessionaI exerience vorking in governmenl and ubIic affairs, IegaI
services, adverlising, and nonrofil fundraising.




































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Aendix
TIMILINI


uA1L C8CuS 1ClCS ulSCuSSLu
May 29, 2013 uemocraL leglslaLors urban gun vlolence, more menLal healLh servlces, walver of menLal healLh
records, llablllLy lnsurance, lncreaslng penalLles for flrearm possesslon, safe
sLorage, lncrease sales Lax on guns
!une 18, 2013 Small Lown pollce 8alanclng sLandardlzaLlon of sulLablllLy wlLh pollce dlscreLlon, Lralnlng on
llcense process, quallLy of flrearms Lralnlng courses and cerLlflcaLlon of
lnsLrucLors, ellmlnaLe class 8 llcense, elevaLlng sulLablllLy sLandards for llu
cards, access Lo MP records aL prlvaLe faclllLles, currenL lengLh of llcense
renewal process
!uly 2, 2013 8epubllcan leglslaLor 8elaLlve rarlLy of school shooLlngs versus urban gun vlolence, lncrease penalLy
for lllegal flrearms possesslon, sLandardlzaLlon of guldellnes for pollce chlefs,
educaLlonal and gun safeLy programs, slmpllflcaLlon of llcenslng process,
would noL oppose llve flre requlremenL for Lralnlng courses
!uly 9, 2013 MenLal healLh
advocaLes
uon'L sLlgmaLlze Lhe menLally lll, menLally lll more llkely Lo be vlcLlms Lhan
perpeLraLors of vlolence, subsLance abusers aL rlsk for vlolence more ofLen
Lhan menLally lll, menLal healLh records and prlvacy concerns, flrearms and
sulclde prevenLlon
!uly 30, 2013 School superlnLendenLs CollaboraLlon beLween pollce and school admlnlsLraLors ln school safeLy
plannlng, besL pracLlce sLandards Lo work off of ln creaLlng safeLy plans, no
unfunded mandaLes, menLal healLh resources for chlldren ln schools, school
resource offlcers.
SepLember 12,
2013
Cun owner groups unfalr LargeLlng of responslble gun owners, llve flre Lralnlng on ranges, gun
safeLy awareness wlLh chlldren and famllles, lncrease penalLles for lllegal
users, proper response Lo acLlve shooLer slLuaLlons, ALlCL program, prlvaLe
sales of flrearms and background checks, slow llcense renewal process whlch
puLs llcenses aL rlsk of vlolaLlng Lhe law ln Lhe lnLerlm.
SepLember 19,
2013
Cun conLrol advocaLes arLlclpaLlon ln nlCS background check sysLem, background checks for prlvaLe
secondary sales, lncluslon of a sLaLuLe for Lrafflcklng beyond lllegal sale, one
gun a monLh provlslon, lncrease mand. mlnlmums, brlng gun manufacLurers
and dealers lnLo dlscusslon, hold manufacLurers ln Lhe sLaLe more accounLable,
expand sulLablllLy Lo lnclude long guns, lncrease penalLles for fallure Lo reporL
losL/sLolen gun.
SepLember 27,
2013
urban law enforcemenL lllegal guns ln 8osLon never more accesslble Lo youLh Lhan now, penalLy for
unlawful dlscharge should be a felony, more deLerrence for brlnglng gun on
school grounds, change ln culLure LhaL promoLes gun vlolence as Lhe answer Lo
confllcL, educaLe sLraw purchasers on consequences, harsher penalLles for
fallure Lo reporL losL/sLolen guns, beLLer compuLer sysLems Lo speed up
flngerprlnL and llcenslng process, and enable uLlllzaLlon of beLLer gun Lraclng
Lechnology and blomeLrlcs, fundlng for more sLaff Lo handle lncrease ln
llcense appllcaLlons, dlverL dealer records Lo sLaLe publlc safeLy agency, more
wraparound servlces Lo famllles of aL-rlsk youLh, earller lnLervenLlon wlLh aL-
rlsk youLh and Lhelr famllles, [ob programs for aL-rlsk youLh fundamenLal Lo
keeplng Lhem ouL of gangs and away from vlolence, focused deLerrence wlLh
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hlgh-rlsk offenders, more ex-offender re-enLry servlces.
uecember 13,
2013
arenLs of Chlldren wlLh
MenLal lllness
1he need Lo deal wlLh enLlre famllles noL [usL youLh, need Lo avold furLher
negaLlve focus on Lhose wlLh menLal lllness, vlcLlmlzaLlon and harassmenL of
youLh wlLh menLal lllness, need for addlLlonal servlces Lo youLh wlLh menLal
lllness
uecember 13,
2013
llrearm 8eLallers 8evlew of ldenLlflcaLlon pollcles for all flrearms sold ln Mass, Lralnlng needed
for sales sLaff lncludlng background checks and red flags, average purchaslng
pracLlces of flrearm buyers







































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Aendix C

The foIIoving charl summarizes lhe commilmenl seclions conlained vilhin MGL Chaler 123.:

SecLlon rovlslon
12(b) Admlsslon for up Lo 3 days upon deLermlnaLlon by examlnlng physlclan LhaL fallure Lo
hosplLallze lndlvldual would creaLe a rlsk of serlous harm by reason of menLal lllness.
lndlvldual has rlghL Lo apply for volunLary admlsslon. lndlvldual musL be dlscharged aL Lhe
end of 3 days unless faclllLy has peLlLloned for commlLmenL. Admlsslons under 12(b) do
*5+ requlre courL lnvolvemenL.
12(e) Crder of commlLmenL for up Lo 3 days upon Lhe deLermlnaLlon by examlnlng physlclan or
psychologlsL LhaL fallure Lo hosplLallze lndlvldual would creaLe a rlsk of serlous harm by
reason of menLal lllness. lndlvldual has rlghL Lo apply for volunLary admlsslon. lndlvldual
musL be dlscharged aL Lhe end of 3 days unless faclllLy has peLlLloned for commlLmenL.
7&8 CommlLmenL for LreaLmenL for an lnlLlal perlod of up Lo 6 monLhs (and annually
LhereafLer) upon a @)6,A,7- B,*6,*C LhaL Lhe lndlvldual has a menLal lllness and LhaL
dlscharge of Lhe lndlvldual would creaLe a llkellhood of serlous harm.
16(b) and
(c)
CommlLmenL for LreaLmenL for an lnlLlal perlod of up Lo 6 monLhs (16(b)) and annually
LhereafLer (16(c)) of a defendanL who has been found lncompeLenL Lo sLand Lrlal or lacklng
crlmlnal responslblllLy upon a @)6,A,7- B,*6,*C LhaL Lhe defendanL has a menLal lllness and
LhaL dlscharge of Lhe defendanL would creaLe a llkellhood a serlous harm.
18 for
evaluaLlon
CommlLmenL of a prlsoner for observaLlon and examlnaLlon Lo deLermlne wheLher Lhe
prlsoner meeLs crlLerla for commlLmenL under 7&8.
18 for
LreaLmenL
CommlLmenL of a prlsoner upon a [udlclal flndlngs requlred for commlLmenL under 7&8.
33 CommlLmenL of an lndlvldual for Lhe LreaLmenL of alcohollsm or subsLance abuse for an
lnlLlal perlod of LhlrLy days based upon a [udlclal flndlng LhaL Lhe lndlvldual ls a subsLance
abuser or alcohollc and LhaL release of Lhe lndlvldual would creaLe a llkellhood of serlous
harm.
36(b) uuLy Lo warn. A llcensed menLal healLh professlonal belleves LhaL a cllenL has
communlcaLed Lo Lhe llcensed menLal healLh professlonal an expllclL LhreaL Lo klll or lnfllcL
serlous bodlly ln[ury upon a reasonably ldenLlfled vlcLlm or vlcLlms and Lhe cllenL has Lhe
apparenL lnLenL and ablllLy Lo carry ouL Lhe LhreaL or (b) Lhe paLlenL has a hlsLory of
physlcal vlolence whlch ls known Lo Lhe llcensed menLal healLh professlonal and Lhe
llcensed menLal healLh professlonal has a reasonable basls Lo belleve LhaL Lhere ls a clear
and presenL danger LhaL Lhe paLlenL wlll aLLempL Lo klll or lnfllcL serlous bodlly ln[ury
agalnsL a reasonably ldenLlfled vlcLlm or vlcLlms