HOLYOKE, Mass (WWLP) – Attorney General Maura Healey visited Holyoke Community College Wednesday.
Healey met with students studying criminal justice, human services, and nursing from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Holyoke Community College Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.
Healey toured HCC and then spoke with students and faculty about current issues in Massachusetts and around the country. After the discussion, there was a question and answer session moderated by HCC criminal justice professor Alex Sanchez.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to hear from and talk to the top law enforcement official in Massachusetts about issues that directly relate to their studies here at HCC, particularly on the subject of opioid addiction,” Sanchez said.
The Attorney General spoke about the lawsuit challenging President Trump’s “Muslim ban,” the opioid epidemic, and gun violence.
Gun violence is a timely topic after the US Appeals Court upheld the attorney general’s interpretation of the State’s assault weapon ban.
Healey told 22News, “The bottom line is this. We can respect the second amendment and also make sure there are laws in place to protect public health and public safety and the court made that clear and once again affirming our decision to enforce that law.”
The appeals court ruling is the result of a 2016 decision by Healey to ban copies of assault weapons.
Healey says the copies are modified assault weapons with small changes from the originals.
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