Suffolk County DA Conley Responds to GOAL

On April 25, 2007 Gun Owners' Action League received a letter from Suffolk County District Attorney Conley. The letter from the DA was in response to GOAL's request that he explain his remarks that were quoted in an April 12, 2007 Boston Globe article.

In the letter the DA states, "Sportsmen, police officers, and other law-abiding citizens who own firearms in accordance with state regulations should not be made to pay the price for a small minority of criminals who buy, sell, and use them illegally."

GOAL welcomes the District Attorney's letter explaining his remarks. We also look forward to a better line of communication between his office and our organization. This can only lead to better efforts being made to go after the real criminals while protecting the rights of lawful gun owners.

GOAL would also like to thank our members who contacted the DA's office to express their concern. A copy of the letter can be downloaded below.

Click Here to Download the DA's Response Letter.

GOAL Calls on Suffolk County DA Conley to Apologize to Police and Lawful Gun Owners!

In an April 11, 2007 Boston Globe Article concerning the latest threat to civil rights in Massachusetts, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley was quoted as saying "People who carry guns are inherently dangerous..”

“If this is a true reflection of what the D.A. said, then the D.A. owes a personal apology to every law enforcement officer and lawful gun owner in the nation.” said Jim Wallace Executive Director of Gun Owners’ Action League, “To suggest that everyone who carries a firearm is inherently dangerous is absurd. It is an immature and hateful characterization of those who work to protect others and citizens who choose to exercise their civil rights. If the quote is accurate, the D.A. must be held responsible for that statement!”

GOAL is suggesting that all law enforcement officers and lawful gun owners nationwide contact D.A. Conley’s office and ask him to publicly apologize. Further, tell him he needs to publicly state that he will use the power of his office to protect the civil rights of lawful citizen gun owners.

Suffolk County D.A. Contact Information:

Phone: (617) 619-4000

Email: comment@suf.state.ma.us

Mailing Address:

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Legislators seek to halt gun trafficking

By Suzanne Smalley, GLOBE STAFF

Law enforcement officials and community leaders Wednesday hailed a new proposal to stem the flow of guns to city streets.

Legislation filed by state Senator Jarrett Barrios seeks to make it more difficult for gun traffickers to avoid detection by creating a central database tracking guns bought and sold on the secondary market. It will also make it illegal to not report a lost or stolen gun, allow judges to consider illegal gun possession when setting bail, and ban the bulk purchase of firearms.

Barrios and other legislators will release a report on illegal gun trafficking at the State House on Thursday, alongside police officials, prosecutors, and community leaders who advocate passage of the legislation.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said the change in the bail law would be especially significant, because judges are now limited to considering primarily whether a defendant is likely to flee.

The new bail language "would make an almost immediate difference out on the streets," Conley said. "People who carry guns are inherently dangerous, and the bail statute should reflect that."