http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_13306281
Fitchburg police reviewing gun licenses following murders
By Jack Minch, [email protected]
Posted: 09/10/2009 06:37:48 AM EDT
FITCHBURG -- The Police Department is reviewing all gun licenses in the city in the aftermath of Sunday morning's double slaying on Mechanic Street, Police Chief Robert A. DeMoura said during Mayor Lisa Wong's weekly press conference Wednesday.
The department has liberally issued Class A licenses to carry concealed weapons in recent years, but DeMoura said he plans to make it harder to get one in the future.
Gun owners may be concerned about protecting their license to carry weapons but DeMoura said he has to protect public safety.
"I'm clearly going to change our process that allows individuals to readily get a firearms permit," he said.
Gun owners can also get a Class B permit to carry an unloaded weapon in a locked box in the trunk of their vehicles, DeMoura said.
Many of the licenses to carry concealed weapons are held in the city's most populous neighborhoods, DeMoura said.
He plans to hold hearings during the renewal process in which gun owners would justify the need to carry a concealed weapon, DeMoura said.
"We are not just going to give out firearm permits just because someone asks for one," DeMoura said. "Or if we do, we are going to be very stringent and follow the guidelines and very clearly, I'm not looking at having everyone who gets a license to carry and possess it on them."
It was not immediately clear following the press conference how many gun owners have permits to carry concealed weapons.
also announced he met with School Superintendent Andre Ravenelle and representatives from District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.'s office as well as other officials, looking at root causes for crime in the city on Wednesday. The meeting was arranged about a month ago, he said.
DeMoura said he wants to bring together agencies responsible for oversight of youths to ensure their basic needs are met so they do not turn to crime.
"That's what we're trying to do, bring different and unique programs to the city that actually look at the core of a problem that results in violence to the kid," he said after the press conference.
"That if that's not taken care of, the kid could become more violent because he believes nobody cares for him ... those are the things you have to look at that causes a kid at some point to commit a violent act."
Fitchburg police reviewing gun licenses following murders
By Jack Minch, [email protected]
Posted: 09/10/2009 06:37:48 AM EDT
FITCHBURG -- The Police Department is reviewing all gun licenses in the city in the aftermath of Sunday morning's double slaying on Mechanic Street, Police Chief Robert A. DeMoura said during Mayor Lisa Wong's weekly press conference Wednesday.
The department has liberally issued Class A licenses to carry concealed weapons in recent years, but DeMoura said he plans to make it harder to get one in the future.
Gun owners may be concerned about protecting their license to carry weapons but DeMoura said he has to protect public safety.
"I'm clearly going to change our process that allows individuals to readily get a firearms permit," he said.
Gun owners can also get a Class B permit to carry an unloaded weapon in a locked box in the trunk of their vehicles, DeMoura said.
Many of the licenses to carry concealed weapons are held in the city's most populous neighborhoods, DeMoura said.
He plans to hold hearings during the renewal process in which gun owners would justify the need to carry a concealed weapon, DeMoura said.
"We are not just going to give out firearm permits just because someone asks for one," DeMoura said. "Or if we do, we are going to be very stringent and follow the guidelines and very clearly, I'm not looking at having everyone who gets a license to carry and possess it on them."
It was not immediately clear following the press conference how many gun owners have permits to carry concealed weapons.
also announced he met with School Superintendent Andre Ravenelle and representatives from District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.'s office as well as other officials, looking at root causes for crime in the city on Wednesday. The meeting was arranged about a month ago, he said.
DeMoura said he wants to bring together agencies responsible for oversight of youths to ensure their basic needs are met so they do not turn to crime.
"That's what we're trying to do, bring different and unique programs to the city that actually look at the core of a problem that results in violence to the kid," he said after the press conference.
"That if that's not taken care of, the kid could become more violent because he believes nobody cares for him ... those are the things you have to look at that causes a kid at some point to commit a violent act."
![[angry]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/008.gif "Angry [angry]")
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
