News Briefs

ABSENTEE BALLOTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ELECTION

Voters who are unable to vote on election-day because of physical disability, religious beliefs or travel may vote by absentee ballot. If you will be absent from Winthrop for an extended period of time, you may submit a single application for all elections occurring within the year the application is filed.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the town clerk or downloaded from the town clerk’s Web Page at www.town.winthrop.ma.us then click departments and town clerk. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail. The voter, or a “family member” (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild, a spouse or person residing in the same household, in-laws, adopting parent or adopted child, stepparent or stepchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew), may submit an application. All absentee ballot applications must be signed by the voter or a family member under the penalty of perjury before an absentee ballot will be made available.

Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the town clerk before 12 noon the day before an election. (A voter who is admitted to a health care facility after noon of the fifth day before an election may apply for a ballot up until the close of the polls and may request to have the ballot delivered.) Absentee ballots generally are available three weeks before an election.

Please do not hesitate to call the Town Clerk’s office at 617-846-1742 with questions.

 

House Passes Legislation Banning Bump Stocks

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed an amendment sponsored by Representative David Linsky to the 2017 Supplemental Budget banning the sale, purchase, or ownership of a “bump stock” device.

The Amendment adopted by the House bans the possession, ownership, or sale of any device that attaches to a rifle, shotgun, or firearm, other than a magazine, which is designed to increase the rate of fire of said weapon. The legislation carries a punishment of imprisonment in the state prison by not less than three years nor more than twenty years, and goes into effect six months from the passage of the bill.

“This legislation will ensure that no one in Massachusetts can legally possess a ‘bump stock,’ a device designed to increase the deadliness of these already deadly weapons,” said Representative Linsky (D-Natick). “These devices were created by gun manufacturers as a work-around of the federal law banning the sale and possession of automatic weapons, and there is absolutely no place for them in a civilized society.”

“I am proud and encouraged that the House’s 2014 gun law has resulted in Massachusetts having the lowest rate of gun deaths per capita,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “There’s no doubt about it: The stronger the gun laws, the safer the state. Today’s vote to ban bump stocks is a responsible, commonsense action to protect our citizens and make our laws even stronger. I thank Chairman Linsky for his initiative and I urge other states and Congress to take action on gun safety.”

“What we saw last week in Las Vegas was horrific,” said Representative Jeffrey Sánchez, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “While we cannot bring those precious lives back, today’s bump stock ban prevents another tragedy from taking place in Massachusetts, and builds on our progress promoting sensible gun safety in the Commonwealth.”

“In light of the recent mass tragedies across our country involving weapons which used rapid-fire technology, I am proud that the House took steps to ban bump stocks in the Commonwealth,” said Representative RoseLee Vincent.  “I want to thank Speaker DeLeo and Representative Linsky for their work in crafting this common sense legislation.”

A “bump stock” is a device that uses the recoil of a semiautomatic firearm to file several shots in succession, mimicking automatic gun fire. While the weapon still fires one bullet for every pull of the trigger, the “bump stock” automates the trigger-pull process, allowing shooters to fire at a rate of 400 to 800 rounds a minute. Twelve of the rifles the gunman in the Las Vegas mass shooting were modified with a “bump stock,” allowing him to increase the fire rate of his weapon.

“Congress has continued its failure to act in the wake of yet another gun violence tragedy, but I applaud Speaker DeLeo and the rest of my colleagues in the Massachusetts House for their willingness to take a stand on this issue of public safety,” said Representative Linsky. “We must continue to take the initiative at the state level to improve our state’s gun laws, and ultimately save lives.”

The Amendment, which passed 151-3, now goes to the Massachusetts Senate for debate.

 

LEARN TO SKATE CLASSES OFFERED AT 11 GREATER BOSTON RINKS

The 2017-2018 skating season has begun.  Bay State Skating School is one of Greater Boston’s most established and popular skating programs.

Professional Instructors teach Recreational, Figure and Hockey Skating Skills to the beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters.  Students can wear either figure, recreational or hockey skates.

New and ongoing lessons are held at 11 Greater Boston Rink locations including;  Brookline-Cleveland Circle, Larz Anderson/Brookline, Cambridge, Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, Waltham, West Roxbury, and Weymouth.

For nearly 50 years, our emphasis is on having fun while learning to skate. Enjoy a fun filled series of lessons, where children learn the basic skills of ice skating.  We have taught over 90,000 students to ice skate.  Come skate and feel great!

For more information and to registration, visit www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org or call Bay State Skating School (781) 890-8480.