The Pennsylvania House of Reps has it right

Much ink has been spilled of late over the Pennsylvania House's "Committee of the Whole," called in order to try to find solutions to the problem of the state's alarming upswing in violent crime, especially in Philadelphia. Much of the focus, unsurprisingly, has been on various additional restrictions on firearms and ammunition--that, seemingly, is always the "answer," at least in the minds of some.

The House discussed most of these proposed bills Tuesday and yesterday (and will meet again next Tuesday, to discuss the rest). Despite the immense, hysterical outpouring of shrill cries to "get the guns off the streets," the House rejected most of the proposed gun rights infringements, and is instead pursuing the novel approach of trying to get violent criminals off the streets--what an unusual concept! Apparently, they reject the notion that the bad, wicked, naughty firearms load themselves, cruise the streets under their own malevolent power, point themselves at innocent children, and pull their own triggers. Instead, the majority of Pennsylvania's Representatives seem to think that when one drug dealer accidentally kills a child, in an attempt to kill a rival drug dealer, that it is the drug dealer's fault.

Here, I found a tragic illustration of just such a case, where we learn of this horror:

Police: Child's death resulted from drug feud

Five-year-old Casha'e Rivers lost her life when a violent drug feud resulted in gunfire on a North Philadelphia street Sunday morning, felling the "purely innocent" child, authorities said yesterday.

The homicide investigation took a turn last night when a man police had sought for questioning in the case showed up at Police Headquarters. Earlier, police said they were seeking Kevin Felder, 25, of the 2600 block of North Napa Street, in two other shootings that may be related to Casha'e's slaying. Felder, a three-time convicted drug felon, had been described as armed and dangerous.

Felder showed up after 10 p.m. with another man and told reporters he had nothing to do with Casha'e's slaying. He was being questioned late last night by homicide detectives.

The little girl, called "Mama" by family and friends, was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Alisha Corley, 22, of the 900 block of North 12th Street, who police say has had close relationships with two known drug figures.

Casha'e's father is now in prison on cocaine charges, while Corley's current boyfriend - Romar Berry, 22 - was arrested yesterday morning and charged with narcotics offenses. When authorities served the arrest warrant in the 2600 block of North 29th Street, they found Corley in the apartment. Berry, the father of Corley's toddler son, fled to the roof but was apprehended, police said.

Hours later, Corley arrived in Harrisburg and spoke at a rally with the NAACP and Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network to end gun violence.

The endless series of horrible decisions made by her mother does nothing to lessen the tragedy of the death of little Casha'e Rivers, but it does raise some questions. For example, how is it that a man could have been convicted three times for felonies, by the time he reaches the age of 25, and be anywhere but in prison? Further reading of the Philadelphia Enquirer article reveals that he was also wanted for other shootings, but was still free to peddle his poison, and shoot up North Philly.

Philadelphia's problem isn't a "gun problem"--it's a crime problem, a drug problem, a gang problem. It's a problem of a broken criminal justice system, and it's a problem of politicians who refuse to be held accountable for their failings, just as they fail to hold felons accountable for their actions. These politicians sent 2000 people to Harrisburg, to join the screeching for more "gun control" (who paid for all the buses, I wonder--the taxpayers, perhaps?). Luckily for Pennsylvania, the rest of the legislature isn't buying it.