This state doesn’t need another Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 romantic work of fiction written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is considered to be his magnum opus. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

The story starts during the summer of 1642, near Boston in a Puritan village. A young woman, named Hester Prynne, has been led from the town prison with her infant daughter in her arms, and on the breast of her gown "a rag of scarlet cloth" that "assumed the shape of a letter." It is the uppercase letter "A." The Scarlet Letter "A" represents the act of adultery that she has committed and it is to be a symbol of her sin—a badge of shame for all to see.

For generations Hawthorne’s readers have been shocked by this custom of forcing a woman to wear the scarlet letter, but a Massachusetts legislator filed a bill to revive this concept of public branding.

State Representative Paul McMurtry, D-Dedham, filed legislation that would  force gang members known to law enforcement officials to put stickers on their licenses, indicating their affiliation as a criminal. The bill would force known gang members to put the letter “G” on their operator’s license.

A person deemed a “gang member” would have to get a score of 10 or more points from local or state police in categories such as “self admission; known group tattoo marking; group related photo; or information from a reliable or confidential informant,” before putting the sticker on their license, according to the proposed bill.

Thankfully, saner heads prevailed. “This is insanity,” said constitutional lawyer Harvey Silverglate. “Why don’t we just put indelible tattoos on their forehead or a scarlet letter?”

Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, said stamping a "G" on a driver's license would do little to address gang problems and could target people who have no criminal record.

"I'm all for focusing government attention on eradicating gangs and gang culture," Pressley said in a statement. "But the most effective way to dismantle the hold gangs have over too many neighborhoods is to improve the economic and social conditions that lead young people to seek out gangs."

“Boston police already know who the gang members are,” said Emmett Folgert of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, adding that to some gang members, the “G” will be an “honor.”

Representative McMurtry has withdrawn his ill conceived bill.