Governor signs bill that strengthen laws that regulate bombs and bomb-making materials

July 30, 2010 - Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) joined Representative Michael A. Costello (D-Newburyport), Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan, State Police Col. Marian McGovern, State Fire Marshall Stephen Coan, and the brave men and women of of the Boston Police and State Police Bomb Squad units to witness Governor Patrick signing in to law Senate Bill 2468 - An Act Strengthening the Laws Related to the Regulation of Explosives.

Senator Baddour's statement:

·          This bill provides law enforcement the necessary tools to prosecute cases in which they’ve uncovered large amounts of bomb-making materials.

·          After the Commonwealth v Carter case – it was clear that there was a loophole in existing law that allowed individuals who possessed bomb making materials, and were clearly intent on constructing some sort of explosive device, to evade prosecution. 

·         It is absurd that law enforcement officials could discover individuals with explosives, blasting caps, detonating devices and other documents indicating that they were planning on eventually making explosive devices and not be able to charge them with a serious crime.

·         We already know that the men and women of law enforcement have tough jobs but in my mind, nothing could be more dangerous and volatile than working on the bomb squad. 

·         I am so proud that they will now have the tools to aggressively prosecute those who seek to injure, kill or cause mayhem for the citizens of the Commonwealth. 

·         I would like to offer my special thanks to the brave men and women of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, the Commonwealth’s Department of Fire Safety, and other police departments who helped ensure that this passage of this bill occurred today.  They all played a part in helping me understand the gravity of problem that this loophole created. 

For more information on the new law, click here.