What we’re seeing is a crisis,” Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said. “We need the entire criminal justice system to see it as a crisis.”
Both police and the Worcester District AttorneyÂ’s Office see the rise in the use of knives in crimes as an urgent situation.
Now, a state criminal statute, seldom used in recent years and whose roots trace back to passage in 1906, will be applied and enforced in cases where people are fighting or causing chaos while carrying a knife. The statute, under the Crimes Against Public Peace, Section 10 of Chapter 269, General Laws of Massachusetts, lists a number of weapons, including different types of knives and odd and rarely used weapons.
Knives are easier to conceal than guns, police said. Knives are more accessible and there have been no consequences to carrying one — something that will change when authorities begin aggressively pursuing the crimes against public peace statute.
MORE:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20081012/NEWS/810120584/1116/NEWSREWIND
Be sure to read the comments that have been sent in also
Both police and the Worcester District AttorneyÂ’s Office see the rise in the use of knives in crimes as an urgent situation.
Now, a state criminal statute, seldom used in recent years and whose roots trace back to passage in 1906, will be applied and enforced in cases where people are fighting or causing chaos while carrying a knife. The statute, under the Crimes Against Public Peace, Section 10 of Chapter 269, General Laws of Massachusetts, lists a number of weapons, including different types of knives and odd and rarely used weapons.
Knives are easier to conceal than guns, police said. Knives are more accessible and there have been no consequences to carrying one — something that will change when authorities begin aggressively pursuing the crimes against public peace statute.
MORE:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20081012/NEWS/810120584/1116/NEWSREWIND
Be sure to read the comments that have been sent in also