Sen. Sessions: Why Won't Administration Prosecute Criminals Using Guns?

[Draggingtree]

The Conversation:

Sen. Sessions: Why Won't Administration Prosecute Criminals Using Guns?

 

by Elizabeth SheldJan 31, 2013 7:22 AM PT0

With all the grandstanding and spin surrounding the gun-control debate, it's nice to see someone asking a fairly obvious question: Why aren't we prosecuting criminals using guns? Really, a simple and critical question. According to Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), prosecutions have dropped dramatically during the Obama administration.

The Washington Examiner reports:

In 2004, under Bush, there were 10,937 prosecution of weapons matters which has dropped down to about 6,000 cases in 2012.

It's hard to believe the administration is serious about making gun violence a punishable crime, and ridiculous to think that more laws will have an impact since they aren't really being enforced.

[Valin]

Guns and Emotions

 

 

 

In a marathon session yesterday, politicians allowed people from Newtown and various other lobbying organizations to state their views about guns. Several of the more emotionally compelling statements made the press and have been forced on an unsuspecting public, as a means to push harsher gun control laws. One statement in particular struck me as I watched the news this morning. Susie Ehrens, whose daughter survived the attack, made the following plea:

 

 

“We stop being the world’s greatest country when we allow our most vulnerable citizens to be slaughtered because we might offend people by taking away their guns. We stop being something to be proud of when we love our guns more than we love our children.”

 

 

It is heartfelt sentiment with a strong statement. I have no doubt many people, many parents in particular, were moved closer to supporting gun control as a result. Certainly, it is a statement which hit me hard - do I really love guns more than I love children? So much so that I'm willing to let children die just because I support the freedom to bear arms?

 

Of course not. After thinking about this statement, I believed a response was needed. Mainly because it is factually inaccurate, at least in terms of how it describes me, and it is logically flawed, in general.

 

Let me begin by saying that I, as well as all of Maggie's readers, are deeply moved by the loss these families suffered. By no means would anyone here seek to diminish that or belittle the feelings these people are sharing.

 

(Snip)