Editorial: Lawmakers off mark in targeting gunshot detect tool

June 14, 2024

The Sentinel & Enterprise editorial board weighed in on the matter of ShotSpotter, the congressional letter, and CEO Ralph Clark’s response. Despite claims from misguided critics who accuse the technology of targeting communities of color, the board argues that the evidence shows ShotSpotter is an effective tool for saving lives. They point to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s strong support for the system, which she says has led to “countless instances” of lives being saved, as well as support from other major law enforcement agencies across the country. “If the ShotSpotter technology can win over Mayor Wu, who is far from a law-and-order ideologue, it certainly must have more than proven its worth in alerting police to serious incidents and identifying those suspected of committing gun-related crimes,” they said.

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