Arresting gun crime should be priority one for the new Government

May 15, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
The first task of the new government should be to ensure the security of our citizens by changing and enacting new laws that pertain to crimes involving firearms. The offence of robbery under arms has to be modified to include other charges.
Too many times we read of individuals charged with violent crimes are re-arrested weeks later for similar offences. This is an alarming trend that jeopardizes public safety, and the blame has to be placed squarely on magistrates who place felons on bail. I can only assume that magistrates live in some sort of bubble and are totally oblivious to the rampant crimes that are pervasive in our society. Have magistrates and judges ever entertained the thought that the persons appearing before them are there because they were caught and may have committed numerous other offences for which they have not been charged? The judgment handed down by the courts should be a deterrent to others and not a slap on the wrist. It should be noted also that victims of gun crimes are left traumatized for life after staring down the barrel of a gun.
I therefore recommend the following be seriously considered by the new administration to ensure the safety of our citizens.
Illegal Possession of a weapon 1: Use of a legal or illegal firearm during the commission of a crime. Penalty, 10 years. (a non-bailable offence)
Illegal Possession of a weapon 2: Being found in the possession of an illegal firearm. Penalty, 5 years. (a non-bailable offense)
Menacing in the first degree: The displaying of a legal or illegal firearm while threatening someone or during the commission of a crime. Penalty, 2 years in prison.
Reckless Endangerment count 1: The discharging of a firearm with the intent to harm someone. Penalty, 5 years.
Reckless Endangerment count 2: The discharging of a firearm. Penalty, 2 years.
Robbery Underarms: (Automatic 5 year penalty) This offense, if involves the use of a firearm should include the following charges:
·Illegal Possession of a weapon 1 or 2 years.
·Menacing in the first degree, and if the weapon was discharged,
Reckless Endangerment counts 1 or 2, times the number of times the weapon was discharged. A felon could effectively be hit with five counts of Reckless Endangerment 1 or 2.
The authorities have to be serious in arresting gun crimes instead sending it on a jailhouse vacation.
Joe Owen

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Arresting gun crime should be priority one for the new Government

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