Make penalties tougher when guns involved in crimes

Published 1:30 am Saturday, July 16, 2022

Since Congress has shown no interest in meaningful gun violence control, and since the Supreme Court apparently is unable to understand the words “a well-regulated militia,” and encourages all to carry weapons, perhaps it is time to approach the problem from a different angle.

What follows may appear simplistic, but consider that it is aimed at simple-minded people who think all problems, disagreements or disputes must be handled with a gun in one’s hand.

What if we, at least at the state level, passed laws outlining the consequences of the unlawful use of firearms? If gun owners know there will be severe consequences, perhaps it might make them think twice about so freely using firearms. Why don’t we simply double the sentence of any crime if the perpetrator used a firearm?

What if the discharge of a firearm, for other than self-defense, in a populated area were to carry jail time and a heavy fine?

What if an assault using military type weapons, AR-15, AK-47, etc., carried a ten-year jail sentence?

What if our government began treating teenagers with guns the same as adults are treated? (Case in point, just a few days ago a 15- and a 17-year-old fired shots at police. Upon arrest, at least one of them was let go without bail). Old enough to do the crime; old enough to do the time!

We must make it clear to these irresponsible armed louts that actions carry consequences. It is not the severity of punishment that deters crime, it is the certainty of it.

Frank Baumann

Snohomish