Sargent Urges 10-Year Jail Term For The Possesion of Explosives

Gov. Francis W. Sargent has recommended a ten-year prison sentence for persons convicted of possessing explosives intended for public harm.

Appearing before an emergency session of the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations on Tuesday, Sargent urged adoption of a series of measures to counter the burgeoning use of explosives:

A licensing system for dealers and transporters of explosives, focusing on more complete records of dealers;

A numbering system for each stick of dynamite sold in the state;

Laws providing for police seizure of explosives without a warrant.

Sargent cited the substantial increase in bombings during the past year reported by the National Bomb Data Center, and stressed the need for the protection of the people of Massachusetts "against savage attacks by those who would maim and kill recklessly."

"We must lean over backwards to put this situation under control," Sargent said.