I’m very much in favor of the Three Strikes law and other “tough on crime” measures, though it could possibly use some modification where offenders are known to be non-violent. We need to get violent criminals off the streets, period. I have no mercy for violent offenders. That would go much further than banning guns if the protection of innocent lives is our first concern (as it is mine — and this is one of the primary reasons I support the right to bear arms).[/quote]
But that’s the easy position to take. Which politician out there is going around saying he or she is soft on criime?
Aren’t you not concerned that laws like three strike essentially have led the US to the world’s leading country in incarcerated people per capital. We lead everyone else in the world at over 700/100k. The next major countries behind us are Cuba at 510/100k and Russia at 490/100k.
Isn’t that the whole definition of a police state you think you can prevent with gun ownership?
If you actually need to use your gun to protect your liberty, it is already too late.[/quote]
Yes, I think we are incarcerating too many people, but I also believe that we have a higher number of criminals. Maybe because so many of us descend from revolutionary types, slaves, and criminals? (kinda kidding, kinda not)
We do need to address the problem of incarcerating white collar and non-violent criminals; but getting violent criminals off the street (in many cases, permanently, IMHO) is the #1 way to reduce the crime rate for homicides and other violent crimes. Banning guns will not do it.
There are a number of politicians who are “soft on crime,” though. A lot of people strongly believe that most violent criminals can be rehabilitated.
edited to add: And this is NOT the kind of police state that concerns me. What concerns me is when soldiers, police forces, and other govt resources are used to spy on innocent civilians and take down anyone who poses any kind of a threat to the existing power structure (including political threats). A good example would be the Occupy Wall Street protests, where innocent, non-violent protesters were abused, arrested, filmed (facial recognition, too), etc. by an incredibly and unjustifiably large police force…not to mention the other govt agencies that were involved in thwarting the OWS movement. Also worrisome is the militarization of local police departments where many of them have military-style vehicles, weapons, and technology. On the top of the list is the ever-widening ability of the government to spy on, and collect data about, regular citizens who are NOT committing any crimes.
