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Gun permit order not yet in effect
SCOTT DOLAN , Gazette Staff Writer 07/11/2003
The City Council issued an order three days ago (as of today) ordering the police to resume issuing gun permits, but so far the council’s order has fallen on deaf ears.
Police Chief Raymond O’Berg had previously ordered his department to stop accepting gun permit applications on July 1 in response to budget cuts and a reduction in his clerical staff.
O’Berg went on vacation before the City Council gave its countermand order on Tuesday night, and the chief will remain on vacation until next Tuesday.
No other ranking police officer has the power to override the chief’s standing order in his absence, police said.
The next two highest ranking officers in the department, Capt. John Roster (who is in charge of issuing gun permits) and Capt. Robert Smith, both had yesterday off.
That left Capt. Edmund Finnegan III as the top cop in the police station yesterday. But Finnegan said he does not have the power to assume the role of acting chief in O’Berg’s place.
The police under O’Berg’s command have to continue following his order, despite what the City Council says, until O’Berg himself says otherwise, according to Finnegan.
It is illegal in Massachusetts to own a firearm without a license. Any Taunton resident whose license expires during the freeze would have to surrender his or her guns and pepper spray or face possible criminal charges.
©The Taunton Gazette 2003
http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9602062&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
SCOTT DOLAN , Gazette Staff Writer 07/11/2003
The City Council issued an order three days ago (as of today) ordering the police to resume issuing gun permits, but so far the council’s order has fallen on deaf ears.
Police Chief Raymond O’Berg had previously ordered his department to stop accepting gun permit applications on July 1 in response to budget cuts and a reduction in his clerical staff.
O’Berg went on vacation before the City Council gave its countermand order on Tuesday night, and the chief will remain on vacation until next Tuesday.
No other ranking police officer has the power to override the chief’s standing order in his absence, police said.
The next two highest ranking officers in the department, Capt. John Roster (who is in charge of issuing gun permits) and Capt. Robert Smith, both had yesterday off.
That left Capt. Edmund Finnegan III as the top cop in the police station yesterday. But Finnegan said he does not have the power to assume the role of acting chief in O’Berg’s place.
The police under O’Berg’s command have to continue following his order, despite what the City Council says, until O’Berg himself says otherwise, according to Finnegan.
It is illegal in Massachusetts to own a firearm without a license. Any Taunton resident whose license expires during the freeze would have to surrender his or her guns and pepper spray or face possible criminal charges.
©The Taunton Gazette 2003
http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9602062&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
