Melissa's Bill Become's Law; Demonstrates Need for Cooperation on Other Issues

Statement by Les Gosule,
initiator of Melisa's Law (Habitual Offender legislation),
July 31, 2012
 
"After a thirteen year struggle to achieve this new public safety law, I want to first dedicate this victory to my daughter, Melissa. Melissa, this one's for you. You always cared and did good things for others in your life. May your death also bring some good to others through this new law.
 
Winston Churchill said that government's first duty is to protect the physical safety of its citizens.  Melissa's Law will begin to save lives, and save innocent people from injury, as soon as it's signed.
 
To violent criminals and their apologists who complain that this law is too harsh, I say: "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime".  If you don't want to go to prison under this law, take responsibility for your actions and refrain from committing multiple acts of violence.  It's that simple.

There are so many people to thank for the achievement of Melissa's Law.
 
First, thank you to Governor Deval Patrick.  He kept his promise to me that he would sign a fair and balanced bill.  We have disagreed at times about some aspects of this legislation, but there is no doubt that the Governor is a man of personal integrity.
 
Thank you also to Speaker Robert DeLeo and President Therese Murray, without whose leadership this day would not be possible.  Thanks to Rep. Brad Hill and DA Gerry Leone, the original sponsors of this legislation who stood with me when few others did.  Thanks to Sen. Scott Brown who was the main sponsor in the state Senate before 2011.

Thanks to the chief sponsors, Sen. Bruce Tarr, Rep. Jim Dwyer, and former Sen. Steve Baddour who did incredible work to craft and pass this law.  And thanks to members of the conference committee who worked diligently for months to produce a compromise bill."

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Boston- Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement regarding the signing of Melissa’s Bill into law by Governor Patrick:

"The signing of this bill means that the deaths of Melissa Gosule and Officer Jack Maguire did not go unrecognized, and that we have taken action to prevent these kinds of tragedies from happening again.  The hard work that Les Gosule and Chuck Maguire undertook to secure the passage of this bill into law has been tremendous, and the citizens of the Commonwealth owe them a great debt of gratitude.  When the governor’s pen makes this bill a law, it will be a great victory for public safety.  This law will save lives.”

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