I am not, and have never been, a fan of Project Exile, whereby the entire weight of the federal government is thrown against "gun criminals." I could go into a long explanation of why I oppose enforcement of unconstitutional laws, even against the scum who tend to be the targets of Project Exile, but the arguments are made better than I could do so here.
I bring this up because of a Wall Street Journal article that states that both the NRA and the Brady Campaign support Project Exile and similar efforts (yeah--that makes me feel better about the idea), and that more cities are looking into the idea.
Although the NRA is challenging gun laws in various cities such as San Francisco and Chicago, it supports Richmond's efforts.The BATFE is enthusiastically on board with the idea, of course ("Yeah--I guess we'll accept more power and a bigger budget.")
"By prosecuting them they prevent the drug dealer, the gang member and the felon from committing the next crime," says NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "Leave the good people alone and lock up the bad people and dramatically cut crime."
Although it wants more done to tamp down the supply of guns, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence also supports Richmond's efforts, says Peter Hamm, Brady spokesman. The organization supports any measure that reduces violent crime, which the Richmond effort is doing, he says.
North of downtown, Mr. Swann and fellow ATF agent James Panos cruise in an unmarked car. While the agents conduct investigations, they also patrol like city police, engaging citizens and talking to potential suspects, "just to let them know we're here and keeping an eye on them," Mr. Swann says.Frankly, I'm more concerned about the need to keep an eye on Mr. Swann. It's interesting, though, that just as more and more police departments are becoming increasingly militarized, we also have federal agents driving around playing street cop. One big, happy, police state family.
Project Exile, the NICS "Improvement" Act--the NRA and the Bradyites (not to mention the BATFE) are getting downright chummy, aren't they?
Stumble it!
3 comments:
Agreed there are many troubling aspects to Project Exile.
However, philosophically I agree with the idea of strictly enforcing all laws...even bad laws.
I'd rather have a bad law strictly enforced than have it lie dormant waiting to bite me in the a##.
When a bad law is strictly enforced it becomes easier to raise the public hew and cry against it and get it repealed.
When a bad law is not enforced it becomes a tool for selective tyranny. It also chills the activities of the most law-abiding while not hampering the habitual offenders one bit.
Your point is valid, Mr. Smith, but may not have been necessary had I expressed my own point better.
My biggest objection to "Project Exile" and similar endeavors is the fact that the NRA--ostensibly a pro-rights organization--is pushing it as if it's an alternative to so-called "gun control," simply because the gun laws are in this case being enforced against despicable people.
They wouldn't even need to involve the feds if the state laws proscribed punishments similar to those of the feds (almost no time off for good behavior, etc.). My brother, who's currently in a fed facility, has to serve at least 85% of his sentence. If states didn't offer so many ways to reduce time served and not become the revolving door justice system it has become, Project Exile wouldn't exist.
Criminals serving less than 1/2 their sentence has become the norm.
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