Thursday, October 4, 2012
Melissa's Bill creator, Les Gosule, thanks Rep. Jim Dwyer for his hard work and support in the passage of the bill.
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
To the Editor: I cannot thank your State Representative, Jim Dwyer, enough for all the work he did to make Melissa's Law, the state's new habitual offender law, a reality. Jim was an early supporter of Melissa's Bill even before the murder of Woburn police officer Jack Maguire. He was among the few to stand with me, following the murder of my daughter, Melissa, by a habitual offender, even while others said the bill had no chance of passing. Indeed, the bill had been locked up in the Judiciary Committee since 2000. Yet Jim Dwyer never gave up. What we lacked in political influence - compared to powerful criminal defense interests - we had in firm moral conviction and common sense. Jim knew that it was crazy to keep releasing 5, 10, 50-…
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Looking for an apartment to rent?
Here are five things you need to know today: 1) Some thunder We'll have rain and sun today, according to the National Weather Service. Expect some sunshine during the day, thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Temperatures should reach 80 degrees. 2) We speak for the trees The city's Agricultural Commission will meet tonight at 6 p.m. at Spence Farm. There are lots of things to discuss, like the ongoing Farmers Market and this Friday's fruit-tree planting party! 3) Apartment spotlight One of our most popular features on Woburn Patch is our Rental Properties page. A lot of people are looking for some of the great, affordable housing Woburn has to offer! Today, we take a look at an apartment available today at Montvale Avenue and Auburn Street. …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire helped gain support for Melissa's Bill, which limits parole eligibility for convicted violent repeat offenders.
With the fate of Melissa's Bill solely in Gov. Deval Patrick's hands Tuesday, the governor made a decision at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. "I will sign this bill," he said. Melissa's Bill, named for Melissa Gosule who was killed by a violent repeat offender who was out on parole, has been in the works for years. But it was the killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire on Dec. 26, 2010 that spurred more support for the bill. Officer Maguire responded to an armed robbery at Kohl's in the middle of a blizzard. When he stopped the suspect, a paroled repeat offender with several convictions for robbery and violence against police officers, gunfire was exchanged. Officer Maguire was killed, as was the suspect. Chuck Maguire, Officer Maguire's…
After Tuesday, the House and Senate will not have an opportunity to override a veto.
Although the legislative session ends Tuesday at midnight, Gov. Deval Patrick has 10 days to sign any bills that land on his desk. But anything he vetoes cannot be overridden since the Legislature will have adjourned. Perhaps the most-watched bill in this scenario is the mandatory sentencing bill, also called the "three-strikes" law or "Melissa's Bill," over which the governor and Legislature have locked horns. The bill eliminates parole for someone convicted three times of one of 40 or so violent crimes, with at least one conviction having carried a minimum three-year prison term. After languishing for years, the bill received renewed support after Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire was killed by a paroled, violent repeat offender who…
Monday, July 30, 2012
Chuck Maguire questions Gov. Patrick's amendment to Melissa's Bill.
Although 'Melissa's Bill' won support in both the House and the Senate earlier this month, Gov. Deval Patrick has not signed the bill, which would keep felons with three convictions from receiving parole. Many have questioned the governor's proposed amendment, including Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire's brother, Chuck. The bill had languished for years, but gained support after Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire was shot and killed by a longtime felon on Dec. 26, 2010. Officer Maguire was responding to an armed robbery at Kohl's, in the middle of a blizzard, when he exchanged gunfire with the felon on Washington Street. Officer Maguire's brother, Chuck, has testified in favor of the bill, which, he believes, would keep criminals like …
The governor on Saturday sent 'Melissa's Bill' back to the Legislature.
Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he proposed an amendment to the "three strikes"/Melissa's Bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion. Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. The bill's fate is up in the air, as the legislature's summer session will end Tuesday at midnight. The governor has not indicated whether he would veto …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Bill would keep violent repeat offenders in prison.
N C Morris-Dhaliwal
10:57 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
To Rep. Jim Dwyer, Rep. Brad Hill, and Sen Bruce Tarr...along with countless others We thank you for working so tirelessly to bring this to fruition. We can now proudly say that Melissa's Bill is actually Melissa's Law. To Les Gosule for keeping the faith and to Chuck Maguire for never letting us forget...the City of Woburn applauds you all and is eternally grateful. Congratulations! Clearly this… more ›