Cleveland Considering ‘Gun Offender Registry’—Like Sex Offender Registry

4-15-15 Ohio:

On April 15, Cleveland city officials will consider changing city gun laws to create a “gun offender registry” (GOR) for criminals who use a gun in the commission of their crime.

According to 3 WKYC, the GOR would work like a sex offender registry, giving criminals who used guns “48 hours to report their location and information to the registry when they leave jail or prison.”

The city’s Safety Committee will hold its final hearing on the proposed GOR on April 15, and if it passes, it will move on to the Finance Committee on April 20. If it passes the Finance Committee, it will go into effect 90 days later.

The proposal for the GOR is coupled with new firearm storage laws and new requirements that “make it a crime… for improperly providing access of firearms to a minor.” This gives the proposal a better chance of passing because the storage and criminal laws are being pushed in the wake “of a 1-year-old believed to have been shot by a 3-year-old relative” in Cleveland on April 12.

The child’s death is a horrible tragedy, and Cleveland officials are essentially considering punishing every gun owner in the city by mandating how guns must be stored.

If those storage laws pass, it will also mean that individuals who serve their time for a given crime will not be released to freedom, but to a registry system which will require them to stay in contact with city officials. ..Source.. by AWR Hawkins

Read More of Article...

Article Summary only...

Gun offender registry off to slow start

Washington Felony Firearm Offender Law: Duty to Register also Failure to register as felony firearm offender also Notice to Register and Washington bill to create firearm offender database gains ground

7-23-2014 Washington:

TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- Washington was the first to create a gun offender registry. But no one seems to have heard of it. It functions sort of like the sex offender registry, but keeps track of firearm offenders. KEPR found out why it's off to a slow start.

If your neighbor is a sex offender, they'll be added to this online database. And if your neighbor committed a crime with a gun, they could also go onto a registry. The difference is, you can see the sex offenders, but you can't see the firearms offenders.

"The benefit is to law enforcement and law enforcement alone. It's not something that's released to the public," said Deputy Prosecutor, Terry Bloor.

Which makes you wonder why it's even valuable.

"I see this as being an additional tool that will help us combat people who are repeat offenders and a lot of times, it's the people who are repeat offenders who keep committing crimes. So the more able we are to hold them accountable, the more able we are to combat the repeat gun violence," said Richland Police Captain Mike Cobb.

The registry started a year ago. And in that time, only 26 people were added to it. That's across the whole state of Washington. Richland Police Captain Mike Cobb thinks it's a good idea, in theory. But practicality is another issue. Captain Cobb thinks it's not as user friendly as it could be.

"If we are able to access the database from the field when we find an offender in possession of a firearm, we are gonna be able to hold them accountable in a much more immediate fashion," he said.

So if it isn't in regular use, and the public can't access it, why have it at all? We were unsuccessful in reaching a state representative (Mike Hope) from the Seattle area who pushed for the law. Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Terry Bloor says since the law went into effect, he's recommended adding every firearm felon to the registry, if they qualify.

"If the judge doesn't agree with our recommendation then so be it. But we will ask, unless it's a very unusual circumstance," he said.

Of the 26 people who are on the registry, none were added from Benton or Franklin Counties, but the prosecutor says a number are on the list to be added once they finish their time behind bars. ..Source.. by Gina Lazara

Read More of Article...

Article Summary only...

LA- Police chief considers gun-offender registry

4-25-2009 Louisiana:

Law would be similar to registry for sex offenders.

Offering the latest in a flurry of ideas to combat Shreveport's spike in gun violence, Police Chief Henry Whitehorn has prepared a draft ordinance introducing a gun offender registry similar to that for the state's sex offenders.

The registry would require people convicted of gun-related crimes to register with police to let them know where they are living. Eventually, it could turn into a public online registry with photographs and statistics. The measure would allow residents to find out whether they are living near someone who has been convicted of a gun-related crime, including homicides, aggravated assaults and drive-by shootings.

"As part of our strategy to keeping Shreveport safe, we were searching for solutions to insure gun offenders are taken off the streets and this is one piece that would be a part of a solution," Whitehorn said.

"It's not just Shreveport. Anyone who is paying attention realizes that this is happening all over."

As with sex offenders, individuals would have to pre-register by filling out paperwork in court.

Upon release from prison or after being convicted, they'd have deadlines to register their name, aliases and their address to police and give them a photo.

Offenders also would have to update their information with authorities every so often, Whitehorn said. Failure to comply with the registration could lead to criminal charges and violators could face jail time, a fine or both.
.
The program would be modeled after one that began in New York City two years ago, and it would be the first of its kind in Louisiana. Baltimore also has it.

"I haven't introduced it yet, but it's something that I mentioned during a recent law enforcement summit to get feedback and see what others thought," Whitehorn said. "I didn't get any negative responses. How could anyone be against something that will make our city safe?"

The registry would be a proactive approach to deter illegal gun possession and recidivism. A felon is prohibited by federal and state laws from owning or possessing any firearm. Whitehorn says many people who are arrested for gun-related violence are repeat offenders.

The chief plans to present his draft at an upcoming public safety meeting and from there, it could go to the City Council. He said he realizes there could be opposition to starting the registry, but he believes the idea is worth pursuing.

"It's always hurdles, particularly when people feel as though you are trying to take part of their constitutional rights," Whitehorn said. "This will not have any effect on the general population, just the criminal element, a small part of population that's creating the problems. That's the target group.

"It's strictly for those violent gun offenders. You are not registering weapons, but offenders who have been involved in violent crimes."

Katherine Wafer with the Criminal Justice Police Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group for reform of laws on how much information about offenders should be made public, said the idea could be problematic.

"I would be concerned that this type of law would have an opposite effect than what is intended. It could be used to marginalize people and keep them on the outskirts of society."

The chief plans to present his draft at an upcoming public safety meeting and from there, it could go to the City Council. He said he realizes there could be opposition to starting the registry, but he believes the idea is worth pursuing.

"It's always hurdles, particularly when people feel as though you are trying to take part of their constitutional rights," Whitehorn said. "This will not have any effect on the general population, just the criminal element, a small part of population that's creating the problems. That's the target group.

"It's strictly for those violent gun offenders. You are not registering weapons, but offenders who have been involved in violent crimes."

Katherine Wafer with the Criminal Justice Police Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group for reform of laws on how much information about offenders should be made public, said the idea could be problematic.

"I would be concerned that this type of law would have an opposite effect than what is intended. It could be used to marginalize people and keep them on the outskirts of society." ..News Source.. by Loresha Wilson

Read More of Article...

Article Summary only...