Feb. 5th, 2008

Letter to Channel 5

 

            I am writing today to express my anger over the behavior of the Inspector General’s Office in refusing to pursue legal action against towns that are assessing illegally high fees to citizens seeking to exercise a civil right.

            Last year the Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL) discovered that the City of Cambridge was charging more for firearms licenses than was allowed under state law.  The Inspector General’s Office was made aware of the crime and ruled that Cambridge was in fact in violation and ordered the practice to cease.  At this time, Cambridge is in compliance with state law.  Since the state claimed to have had no knowledge of what Cambridge was doing, GOAL requested the Inspector General to investigate if such illegal activities were occurring in other towns.  GOAL’s own efforts have found that at least four more towns are violating state law in a similar matter. 

            On February 28^th, the Inspector General’s Office informed GOAL that while other towns may be violating the law, the Inspector General is not interested in pursuing the matter.  They feel that the ruling has been made and that it is up to GOAL to uncover whatever crimes are being committed AND enforce the law in those offending municipalities. 

            It is absolutely outrageous that the state is requesting a non-profit entity to fulfill the role of investigating crimes and enforcing the law, particularly when the state has been made explicitly aware of the crimes in question.  I would ask that you hold the state responsible for enforcing its own laws and protecting the citizens of Massachusetts from the abuses that are currently being inflicted upon them.