Data bill seen as bridge to gun violence solutions

BOSOTN -- Massachusetts needs to analyze gun violence trends in order to better address the problem, advocates said Tuesday, as they gathered to support a bill that would require just that.

"The simple message behind this legislation is that good data leads to good policy," said Sen. Cynthia Creem, the majority leader in the Senate.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention and March for Our Lives Boston joined together to host a lobby day to advocate for a bill (S 1388/H 2045) that would require a report on firearms trace data, which they said will allow for the adoption of more effective gun control laws in the future.

The lobby day came as the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America looks ahead to a "Wear Orange Summer Jam" in Dorchester on Saturday morning to bring attention to people affected by gun violence, as part of a nationwide series of events.

The bill, filed by Creem and Rep. Marjorie Decker, would require the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to compile a report every other year on the sources of firearms used in crimes, gun purchase and sale patterns, and the effectiveness of current laws around reporting lost and stolen guns.

Under a 2014 gun law, Massachusetts already collects data on all guns connected to a crime. This bill would not expand collection, only legislately order the analysis.

Advocates said the purpose of the bill is to find out how guns used in crimes enter Massachusetts, and use the data to find more effective strategies to stop the use of illegal guns in crimes.

Decker was unable to attend the event, but her chief of staff Akriti Bhambi spoke on her behalf, and discussed how Decker feels this bill is important even outside Massachusetts.

"One of the reasons we filed the crime gun data bill is because this is another facet of looking at how to really address the issue of gun violence in Massachusetts, and also, importantly, to send a message nationally," Bhambi said.

She said that on a national level, there is very little data and analysis on gun violence and national trends, and that lack of clear data makes it difficult to address gun violence.

"We have our biases"

Speakers also pointed out how gun violence disproportionately affects marginalized communities, and said that presenting unbiased data can make the issue clearer.

"I think it's fair to say that we have our biases when it comes to issues involving firearms, that is why collecting and analyzing this data is critical," Creem said.

Fiona Phie, the executive director of March for Our Lives Boston, spoke about when she was young and surrounded by gun violence in a "neighborhood of turmoil."

"My home wasn't safe, my streets weren't safe, my school wasn't safe," Phie said.

She said young people with March for Our Lives are making their voices heard, and are prepared to force change.

"We're here to disrupt the system, to build new infrastructure, new practices, new knowledge, new data and build a system that makes it possible to reach one's full potential," Phie said.

The bills were referred to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in January and have not been scheduled for a public hearing. Rep. Harold Naughton and Sen. Michael Moore co-chair the committee.