After the dust settles

Now that the senate has killed the gun control bills, can we please focus on the actual problem?

What are we doing to address the issue of violence whether it be from a gun or a fist?

The gun control argument has always been a mirage;  the promise of security without substance.  Calls for banning a type of weapon will still leave weapons available.   The vast majority of crimes involving firearms are with handguns which were never on the ban list.   Lets not re-hash the arguments for or against a ban - lets just all agree that violence will continue as long as people continue.   Do guns make it easier to commit deadly violent crime?  Of course.  Do guns protect the innocent?  Of course.

I wish I were smart enough to propose a plan of action - a plan that people would say "Ya know?  Its so crazy it just may work!", but I'm neither that smart nor (arguably) that crazy.

But can we start with this?

Please, lets prosecute those who break the law.

Everybody makes mistakes.   Lord knows I have.   But when someone breaks a restraining order, for instance, its time to lock them up for the duration of the order.   When someone threatens the life of another in the commission of a crime, why in the world would we think that this person shouldn't be convicted and punished accordingly?   This person was willing to take an innocent life.  Why is that so hard to digest?  When someone is willing and able to do this, why would we put them back on the street??  They will do it again.  Duh.

Please, lets punish those who are convicted.

How, for instance, can someone have "a rap sheet a mile long"?  How is that even possible?   I would say that when it hits 1/4 mile that they are no longer fit to live with the rest of society.   Why do you want to let them go??

Please, lets put down those who egregiously and repeatedly take life, limb, and innocence.

Tell me why, for instance, there are so many people who have "life" sentences?   I know that people are wrongly accused.  I know that you can't bring someone back who is wrongly put to death.  I know that our legal system holds dear Blackstone's premise that "It is better that ten guilty men go free than that one innocent man be convicted."

However, is it better that 10 innocent people die at the hands of a repeat offender than it is to put down that repeat offender?

I would submit that a conviction where subjective evidence (eye witness testimony for instance) is disregarded, and only objective evidence (DNA, video, apprehension during the commission, etc) is used by the jury to determine sentencing, that capital punish be the norm in cases of crimes committed using a firearm, murder, and rape, and that appeals for capital crimes be expedited to prevent lengthy (measured in years) "death row" terms.

I don't have any suggestions on the mental health aspect.  I have no basis to make a judgement.   But, to put society at risk when a person is a danger to others (I honestly don't care, for the purposes of this argument, if they are a danger to themselves) is irresponsible on every level.

Please lets stop grandstanding on what makes us feel safe and focus on what will make us safe.  The prosecution, punishment, and execution of criminals.