Golden and Arciero Commend Speaker's Vow to Revisit Bill Publicizing
Sex Offenders
If passed, the law would allow the public to access
information about Level 1 sex offenders.
By
Andrew Sylvia and Kimberly Ashton, December 14, 2012
In the wake of last
week's horrific news of a Wakefield man arrested
on charges that he raped infants and toddlers, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said
he will take another look at legislation to publicize names of low-level sex
offenders, and two members of Chelmsford's
delegation has voiced his support.
State Representative
Tom Golden,
who represents Precincts 2 and 3 in Chelmsford,
hopes taking another look at the legislation will help increase transparency
and public safety.
"My personal opinion
is that the public should be given all the information it can when it comes to
protecting children," said Golden.
"The main word I've been hearing from constituents about this is
'disgust', and that's one of the feelings I have. It's an absolute disgrace
that someone would do this to children."
State Representative
James Arciero, who represents Chelmsford Precincts 5,7 and 8, believes that the
proposed law, which would add Massachusetts
to the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, is a common
sense move.
"We want to give
information to all citizens that is necessary to protect families and keep
neighborhoods safe," said Arciero, who
spearheaded legislation last year to put information of Level 2 sex offenders
online.
The issue is being
revisited in light of the fact that John Burbine of Wakefield, the man who was charged last
week with 100 child sex abuse charges involving 13 infants and toddlers,
was a Level 1 sex offender. Burbine was convicted in 1989 of indecent assault
and battery on a child.
The proposed bill would
have made information of Burbine's previous conviction public.
“In the coming days,
Speaker DeLeo will meet with law enforcement from the affected communities and
give serious consideration to the bill in question as well as other options to
address these types of sickening crimes,” DeLeo spokesman
Seth Gitell told the Herald.
Chelmsford's other state representatives
could not be reached for comment.
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