| Saturday, Red Mass Group was in studio when Les Gosule, the leading proponent of Melissa's bill, got the call from the Governor stating that Governor Patrick would not be signing the crime prevention measure. Over the weekend more legislators and other interested parties have sent Red Mass Group their thoughts on the Governor's actions. Here are some of them.
Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman), who was on the radio with Gosule on WATD last week had this to say, "The decision by the Governor, quite frankly, makes me sick upon hearing it. If we in the legislature do not return this bill, before session ends, with on with an override of the Governor's decision to include a "safety valve" that lets liberal judges put multiple, violent offenders back on the streets, then I will be extremely disappointed. Extremely disappointed. And if we do send it back to the Governor and he pocket-vetoes the bill because of the "safety valve" (as sadly ironic term for something that will, ultimately, protect criminals and not the citizens of the Commonwealth), then I will be more than disappointed - I will be angry."
Diehl continued, "I was in Hearing Room A-1 at the State House on March 17, 2011, when Les Gosule, joined by his wife and daughter, provided testimony of every single fact related to the case regarding the horrific murder of his daughter, Melissa. I did not see the Governor there in that packed room, filled with legislators and supporters of the bill who could not hold back tears, including myself, when we learned about the details of what happened the night that Michael Gentile raped and murdered Ms. Gosule. Nor have I heard the Governor explain why someone like Michael Gentile, who had served only 2 years for 27 felonies thanks to judges who put victims through more hell than criminals, should have another chance after three violent offenses of this nature. "
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| Diehl concluded, "The legislature has finally acted, after over a decade of attempts, to get a reasonable bill passed and it is about to be undone by the Governor and it makes me sick, angry and questioning when common sense left the Commonwealth. I hope that, when this bill is refilled in the next session - because if it is defeated, it WILL be refilled - I see the Governor in Room A-1 in March of 2013, listening to the words of a father, mother and sister explain why this law in necessary, and hearing the horror they've had to live and I hope he realizes that there are many, many more families that have lost loved ones because this bill has not been able to pass. I pray for the Gosules and hope that they never, ever have to come back to the State House and relive that terrible, tragic night that took Melissa from them and from this world. Until that day comes, I will support whatever effort it takes to make Melissa's Law a reality.""
Rich Bastien (R- Gardner) had the following to say, "Friday, the Governor has said he will not enforce the provisions in the EBT legislation, and vetoed legislation that will ensure unlicensed drivers cannot register vehicles by claiming the RMV would be overburdened by checking that everyone who registers has a license. (Would McDonald's would be overburdened by checking if everyone who ordered a burger had fries?) This weekend, he announced he wants a provision that guts Melissa's Bill."
Bastien continued, "If the Governor will continue to ignore his constitutional responsibilities, a reduction in his administration's budget should be in order. If they will not enforce the laws, why should they get paid to do so?" |
