Gun-Offender Registry Proposed in Utica, NY

Utica Mayor David Roefaro today proposed that city residents charged with second- or third-degree criminal possession of a weapon be required to register their home and work addresses with the police department every six months for four years following completion of their punishment.

The proposal would include those convicted of illegal possession of:

* A loaded handgun.

* Three or more illegal handguns.

* A handgun by a convicted felon.

* An assault weapon.

* A disguised firearm.

The information in the registry would not be available to the public because Roefaro is concerned with protecting juveniles convicted of illegal gun possession, said Angelo Roefaro, the mayor's assistant.

“We don't want to ruin their reputation in the community in perpetuity,” Angelo Roefaro said.

Mayor Roefaro wants to call the city ordinance "Lindsey's Law" after a local police officer, Thomas Lindsey, who was killed during a traffic stop in 2007. Oddly, the Oneida County DA, Scott McNamara, said he didn't know whether the proposed law would have helped Lindsey.

I'm of the opinion that a gun-offender registry would NOT have helped Officer Lindsey. When fingers are pulling triggers, it's way past time to do background checks. With that in mind, I would suggest that the proposed gun-offender registry has more to do with politics than crime prevention.

In any event, the proposed ordinance requires approval of the Utica Common Council and it is scheduled to be discussed next month. If enacted, violations will be misdemeanors punishable by a possible one year in jail and $1,000 fine.