May 1, 2013
Here's a scary proposed solution to 'solving' gun violence - "sentence felons, convicted with guns, to automatic life in prison."
I'm opposed to gun control and think many of the existing laws should be repealed. While I agree with the sentiments that we're not utilizing enough of our current laws, judgment and sentencing for violent felons, I cannot support this kind of draconian proposal because it has too much opportunity for abuse. Like many suggestions, this looks good on its surface. One problem, already mentioned in the comments of the websites where this proposal has appeared, is the cost of housing these criminals. There are suggestions there for making the prisoners pay for their incarceration in various ways. Reality says that'll never work across the board. But the bigger problem is the potential for abuse and unintended consequences that always follow strict laws like this. In order for something like this to work we'd have to trust the government and legal system - law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges - to implement it rationally. Unfortunately, they're not that trustworthy. Once words like "mandatory" get written into law we lose control for "rational" and "reasonable" and there are plenty of gun control zealot prosecutors out there. What if, for example, an otherwise non-violent person, a lawful concealed carry licensee, gets into a fight and is convicted of felony assault and the fight took place while they were armed but the gun was not brandished in the fight? What about the 12-year Army veteran in New York who is currently facing 5 felony charges for possession of 5 30-round magazines he intended to sell even though he didn't have a firearm on him? We might excuse these people from this extreme measure. Gun control advocating lawyers, judges and politicians will not. What about the person who shoots someone in self defense but the evidence is weak and public outrage high? The George Zimmerman case hasn't gone to trial yet. Will we ever know the actual truth, not just the legal outcome, of what happened there?
http://youngpatriots.com/2013/04/a-creative-solution-to-the-gun-debate/
No comments:
Post a Comment