Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
All of you guys love to cite Chicago as the key reason why *** control laws won't work, but I live in Chicago and I can tell you that sensible *** laws can work. As many of you know Chicago does have a strict *** control laws, so the question is where are these guns coming from if there's a strict *** control law? Chicago’s experience reveals the complications inherent in carrying out local *** laws around the nation. Less restrictive laws in neighboring communities and states not only make guns easy to obtain nearby, but layers of differing laws-local and state -make it difficult to police violations. And though many describe the local and state *** laws here as relatively stringent, penalties for ********* them- from jail time to fines-have not proven as severe as they are in some other places, reducing the incentive to comply. More than a quarter of the firearms seized on the streets here by the Chicago Police Department over the past five years were bought just outside city limits in Cook County suburbs. Others came from stores around Illinois and from other states, like Indiana, less than an hour’s drive away. Since 2008, more than 1,300 of the confiscated guns, the analysis showed, were bought from just one store, Chuck’s *** Shop in Riverdale, Ill., within a few miles of Chicago’s city limits.
I was watching a report on one of the networks last weekend. And they were talking about the differences between Chicago's *** laws and New York's. Seems that the laws are fairly similar. But the enforcement and sentencing is MUCH different. Don't quote me, as I'm relying on memory right now. But I believe the chances of a convicted felon being returned to prison for ********* *** laws in Chicago were less than 30%, while in New York they were above 90% (or so). From what the report said, most ******* firearms charges are dropped in Chicago. Somebody can fact check that. But I think that's close. Chicago, D.C. and certain other big cities, with high ****** rates (committed in large part by convicted criminals), have this odd tendency of not enforcing the laws that are already on the books. And many people find that very frustrating.
Back in the early 90's, Richmond, VA had a severe problem with firearms related ******** and ******s, mostly fueled by the ******* Highway/I-95 from Florida to New York. In '92 or '93, I think, they began handing out mandatory minimum sentences of 5 years for people convicted of possessing ***** and guns together... and guess what? The problem largely went away. The Richmond Times even did a follow-up story on the new problem: **** dealers smacking and stabbing each other with sharpened sticks. They got rid of their guns. Nobody wanted to do hard time and wind up in a prison for 5 years in Texas or Kansas, or where ever they sent them.
Start giving any and all violent felons and/or **** dealers a minimum of 5 years (with no other questions asked) if he/she is caught with a firearm. See if that doesn't make a difference. But having a law and then giving a slap on the wrist... nah, I'm not surprised criminals laugh at that law. Why even have a law if it's not going to be enforced?