Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter testified before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary Thursday, pressing for legislation that would sentence anyone convicted of using a firearm in an assault and battery to a minimum 10 years in jail.
Joined by a large contingency of the SouthCoast state delegation, including Mayor Scott W. Lang, who also testified, Mr. Sutter argued enacting the legislation would deter potential criminals from gun violence while keeping those convicted of gun crimes behind bars.
"Gun violence, in my opinion, is the most important public safety issue facing our society today," he said.
"Our streets, our counties and our commonwealth will be safer once we start punishing perpetrators of gun violence with much more severity."
House Bill No. 1695 proposes creating a new charge of assault and battery by means of a firearm. Defendants convicted of this charge would serve a minimum 10-year jail sentence, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The bill also stipulates anyone convicted of attempting to commit assault and battery by means of a firearm would serve up to 20 years in jail, with a minimum sentence of seven years.
A conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon now carries a 10-year maximum sentence. Sentencing guidelines instruct judges to impose a 3½ to five-year sentence for defendants who have a minor criminal record.
Mr. Sutter said the law does not go far enough, and argued one statute should not be used for defendants charged with using firearms and lesser weapons in assault and battery cases.
"I submit to you all that it is self-evident that kicking somebody with a boot or hitting somebody with a stick is very different from shooting somebody with a Glock," Mr. Sutter said.
What's wrong with Bartley-Fox? 1 year minimum mandatory for illegal gun possession. And that is on top of any other offenses you may have committed.
Seems good to me.
Posted by: HousingCop
More "feel good" legislation and worthless gun laws with sentencing guidelines that aren't adhered to. How about enforcing the existing gun laws already on the books?
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