News

Walsh comes out opposing rifle plan for Boston police officers

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Mayor-elect Marty Walsh is now against a plan to arm some Boston officers with rifles, according to an article in the Boston Herald.

In a statement through his spokeswoman Kathryn Norton on Saturday, Walsh "Mayor-elect Walsh is opposed to the AR-15 rifles," said Walsh's spokeswoman Kathryn Norton in a statement on Saturday. "Unless otherwise convinced by the Boston Police Department, he does not think they are necessary."

Earlier, Walsh would not confirm if he planned to approve the measure, which would buy 33 AR-15 rifles to put in cruisers of two trained beat cops in all 11 districts in the city. The rifles cost $2,500 each. The police department has endorsed the plan.

Boston police say it comes after the increase in nationwide massacres including the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Officers would only use the rifles for active-shooter attacks, suspects wearing body armor and far-away targets.

City Councilor Charles Yancey is not for the plan and said active-shooter incidents are better left to specialized SWAT team units and the use of assault rifles actually put the public in more danger.

"I don't believe arming them with assault weapons is going to make them any safer," he said.