There were hearings yesterday on Capitol Hill regarding the proposed new gun control laws. If you watched the coverage in the media, most likely all you saw was a snipped of the testimony from former congresswoman Giffords. She has recovered from being shot in the head, but her speech is halting to say the least. Indeed, it is impossible to know just how much of her comprehension has returned. She is perhaps the most emotional possible witness at a congressional gun control hearing. If you are really interested in the subject, you may also have seen a bit of the appearance by Wayne LaPierre of the NRA or testimony by one of the parents from Newtown. In short, what you saw was testimony about whether or not there ought to be a new law banning so called assault weapons.
The problem with the coverage of the hearings is that it left out what was the most startling and, I believe, the most important bit of information that came out yesterday. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is a former federal prosecutor who understands the various federal gun laws clearly. Sessions announced that government statistics show that in the last four years, federal prosecutions for violations of the federal gun laws have fallen by just under 50% from the level during the Bush Administration. That statistic need to be understood. During each year of president Obama's time in office, the number of people prosecuted for violating federal criminal laws pertaining to guns has fallen to about half of the rate during the Bush years. In other words, we have federal gun laws already, but the Justice Department is not bothering to enforce them.
The key point about the Newtown massacre and the other mass killings is that we need a response that will work, not one that looks good politically. The goal should be to prevent another disaster and not to win votes at the next election. The problem, however, is that the focus in the media and by the president clearly is on the politics rather than the problem. What would the point of passing a new law be if Obama will not enforce it?
The problem with the coverage of the hearings is that it left out what was the most startling and, I believe, the most important bit of information that came out yesterday. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is a former federal prosecutor who understands the various federal gun laws clearly. Sessions announced that government statistics show that in the last four years, federal prosecutions for violations of the federal gun laws have fallen by just under 50% from the level during the Bush Administration. That statistic need to be understood. During each year of president Obama's time in office, the number of people prosecuted for violating federal criminal laws pertaining to guns has fallen to about half of the rate during the Bush years. In other words, we have federal gun laws already, but the Justice Department is not bothering to enforce them.
The key point about the Newtown massacre and the other mass killings is that we need a response that will work, not one that looks good politically. The goal should be to prevent another disaster and not to win votes at the next election. The problem, however, is that the focus in the media and by the president clearly is on the politics rather than the problem. What would the point of passing a new law be if Obama will not enforce it?
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