In an effort to combat gun violence, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell recently announced the establishment of the state's Gun Violence Prevention Unit (GVPU), headed by Christine Doktor as Director and Ryan Mingo as Deputy Director. The unit's mandate involves enforcing the Commonwealth's gun and consumer protection laws, aiming to solidify Massachusetts' firearm laws as the most comprehensive in the country, according to the State of Massachusetts.
To a large extent, Gun violence in the state affects Black youth eight times more than their white counterparts, emphasizing a need for increased preventative and intervention measures. Though Massachusetts reports the lowest gun violence rate in the U.S, an average of 255 people are fatally shot and another 557 wounded every year.
AG Campbell underscored in her announcement that it is integral to uphold the rights of responsible gun owners while pursuing "bad actors in the gun industry and others violating our gun laws.". She mentioned the connection between public health and public safety as a critical element in tackling gun violence.
Prior to her appointment, GVPU Director Christine Doktor acted as the Managing Attorney for Everytown Law, offering her expertise on gun safety litigation. Doktor's background in civil litigation and public interest law should prove beneficial in her new role. Deputy Director Ryan Mingo, who formerly served as an Assistant District Attorney and Chief of the Major Felony Bureau at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, coming from brings his experience working on violent and gang-related offenses, as well as research and training in criminal prosecution and justice reform.
The GVPU intends to aid community-based and law enforcement violence prevention efforts, supporting training and technical assistance on compliance with gun laws, and looking into potential grants for community initiatives that focus on violence prevention and survivor support. By merging civil and criminal enforcement with legislative advocacy and community engagement, the unit seeks to strengthen preventive measures and shield the public from gun violence.
Besides the GVPU's creation, Massachusetts has been at the forefront of state and national efforts aimed at reforming gun laws. In particular, the Attorney General's Office has thrown its weight behind legislation like S.1560, An Act Relative to Silencers, aiming to toughen laws relating to the purchase, possession, and usage of silencers within the state.
In addition, the GVPU plans to address other critical gun safety concerns, including the spread of ghost guns, loopholes in background checks, and the increase of assault weapons. These initiatives remain key to the unit's mission of preventing the detrimental effects of gun violence.
