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Off THE RECORD |
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May 2008
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This was our lead story this morning - "A deadly night of violence in St. Louis." In a span of 7 hours, 5 lives were lost to senseless violence. As Journalists, it's our job to ask questions of police and politicians, and the obvious question in this case is "why?" The officers who are honest will tell you they can't stop someone intent on committing murder. You can't police "intent", and many times these same officers have complained to me that it's wrong to place that expectation on them. The answer in many cases, they'll tell you, is that the shooter involved should still be incarcerated for an earlier crime, but was given a short or suspended sentence in our overburdened court system. So police can't stop it from happening. The politicians, on the other hand, must find an answer, or look bad in the eyes of their constituents. In this case, they blame the weapons used in these crimes, not the people involved in committing them. The Mayor's Chief of Staff, Jeff Rainford, says more guns are on the street, and blames recent changes in gun laws that in remove the Sheriff from the process as I understand it. The change prevents duplication of background checks from the FBI. Listen here: That's possible, but I doubt it's causing any of this. Criminals have always had access to guns, and they don't buy them legally. Anyone who has bought a gun from a licensed dealer knows you have to show a photo ID, and that each purchase includes an instant background check by the FBI, through the ATF. On the document you sign to receive said firearm, it spells out the penalty if you are buying the gun for someone else. It strikes me that it gets down to enforcement of existing laws. Since it's always important to look at both sides, consider these points from www.GunFacts.info: 1) 90% of all violent crimes in the U.S. do not involve firearms of any type. 255 That doesn't make the violence any more palatable or acceptable. But socio-economic forces play a much bigger - if not politically expedient - role than anyone wants to admit. 1 CommentsLeave a comment |
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I strongly agree that there needs to be some kind of law enforcement regarding gun control.
HOWEVER, what was said here is true.
It's not up to the police or, the sherriff's dept. to enforce the laws.
If the politicians would STOP trying to change the constitution of these United States, maybe we wouldn't have the problems that we are having today.
There are way too many laws to contend with.
We have one law for this and another law for that, that contridicts the first law alltogether.
We should take a closer look at other countries and THEIR judicial system.
You don't hear anything about "over crowded" prisons anywhere else but here.
Stop and think, Say for instance, you go out and commit a heanus crime.
You are tried and convicted of that crime and are sentanced to prison.
COOL, no more bills, no more alimony, child support, healthcare costs, no more taxes.
In return you get, PAID HEALTHCARE, PAID EDUCATION, ROOM AND BOARD, MEALS, CLOTHING,
CABLE TELEVISION,All at the expense of who?
The tax payer.. You and I.
Some people that commit crimes, actually have it BETTER in prison than they do walking the streets.
Also, do you realize that if you have a pet, that that pet has more rights than your children and your children have more rights than you do?
Why do you think that "gangs" are recruiting kids UNDER the age of 17 and as young as 10 years old to commit these crimes?
Because they can get away with it because they know that they are protected by THEIR rights.
They go to reform school untill the age of 18, then get released. Just so they can go out and do it all over again.
The politicians really need to look at prison reform alittle more and change these laws and make prison what it should be. PRISON. Not a home away from home.