As others see it: Gun law project is needed

An effort to crack down on felons who buy guns and those who supply them is long overdue and should be welcomed by anyone concerned about public safety in Minnesota.

Law enforcement and prosecutors in Minneapolis last month announced the establishment of a program called Project Exile that will move cases of felons using and possessing guns to federal courts where they can be prosecuted more vigorously and jailed for longer periods of time. ...

The Minnesota program is prompted in part by an exponential increase in Minneapolis killings. Already this year, the 31 killings exceed last year’s total of 19. Illegal gun seizures are up 32 percent. Violent crime is up 3 percent. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office dealt with 150 gun-related cases last year while the U.S. attorney is dealing with 44. ...

The human cost of these crimes is serious and growing. Small children are killed in the line of gang battles. Felons commit crimes again and again, getting guns with ease. Minneapolis police responded to about 100 calls of shootings since Jan. 1.

ATF will be involved to mostly track down so-called “clean” people who serve as straw buyers supplying felons with guns. ...

As long as guns are a good business, people will find ways to supply them to those who demand and pay the right price.

Increasing prosecution and the severity of penalties should raise the price and risk for felons thinking about possessing a gun. If nothing else, a longer prison sentence will keep them off the streets for a few more years. But Project Exile will serve as a badly needed solution to the growing problem of gun violence.

The Free Press of Mankato

Tags: opinion, guns, editorial, crime