Gun crackdown announced
Associated Press
DENVER - Colorado U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland is planning a multilevel crackdown on criminals who break gun laws.
Strickland, who was sworn in to the office in April, will launch a plan in October that includes several proposals aimed at bolstering enforcement of existing gun laws.
Though enforcing gun law has not always been a priority in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the past, Strickland said, "It will be, under my tenure."
Under the plan, local prosecutors around the state will send Strickland cases that carry tougher penalties under federal law than under state law.
Local prosecutors will also be asked to crack down in their own state courts on gun cases where state law allows stiffer sentences.
Federal law enforcement agencies have orders to produce more cases for federal prosecution, especially of gun crimes that violate only federal laws.
The plan also will call for a multimedia ad campaign aimed at scaring criminals into disarming for fear of long years behind bars.
Strickland has asked local corporations and foundations to help with funding of the campaign.
Prosecutor Jim Allison, chief of major crimes in Strickland's office, said the plan will provide a pre-emptive strike against gun violence.
"We are going to get at those federal crimes before someone has been hurt - before the gun has been fired, before it has been stuck in somebody's ear," he said.
In some cases, Colorado sets tougher penalties for gun crimes than federal law.
For instance, Colorado law is tougher on people who use guns when committing crimes. But federal law is tougher on felons who possess guns, requiring a five-year
prison term.
Strickland's plan is modeled after the widely touted Project Exile, started in 1997 by the U.S. attorney in Richmond, Va., and since copied in several other parts of
the country.
------------------
"Taking a long view of history, we may say that
anyone who lays down his arms deserves whatever he gets."
--Jeff Cooper
Associated Press
DENVER - Colorado U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland is planning a multilevel crackdown on criminals who break gun laws.
Strickland, who was sworn in to the office in April, will launch a plan in October that includes several proposals aimed at bolstering enforcement of existing gun laws.
Though enforcing gun law has not always been a priority in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the past, Strickland said, "It will be, under my tenure."
Under the plan, local prosecutors around the state will send Strickland cases that carry tougher penalties under federal law than under state law.
Local prosecutors will also be asked to crack down in their own state courts on gun cases where state law allows stiffer sentences.
Federal law enforcement agencies have orders to produce more cases for federal prosecution, especially of gun crimes that violate only federal laws.
The plan also will call for a multimedia ad campaign aimed at scaring criminals into disarming for fear of long years behind bars.
Strickland has asked local corporations and foundations to help with funding of the campaign.
Prosecutor Jim Allison, chief of major crimes in Strickland's office, said the plan will provide a pre-emptive strike against gun violence.
"We are going to get at those federal crimes before someone has been hurt - before the gun has been fired, before it has been stuck in somebody's ear," he said.
In some cases, Colorado sets tougher penalties for gun crimes than federal law.
For instance, Colorado law is tougher on people who use guns when committing crimes. But federal law is tougher on felons who possess guns, requiring a five-year
prison term.
Strickland's plan is modeled after the widely touted Project Exile, started in 1997 by the U.S. attorney in Richmond, Va., and since copied in several other parts of
the country.
------------------
"Taking a long view of history, we may say that
anyone who lays down his arms deserves whatever he gets."
--Jeff Cooper