75-11-B2
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Gun Control # 2[edit]
Transcript[edit]What's a better way to control crime? Take guns away from law abiding citizens or impose mandatory sentences on criminals who use guns? I'll be right back. Yesterday I talked about the odd proposal by President Ford's new Attorney General Edward Levy to put strict federal controls on the use of guns in urban areas which have high or rising crime rates. Mr. Levy's proposal would limit even more the already limited protection law abiding citizens have in those parts of the country where they need it most. I believe the proposal would also be a clear and unconstitutional infringement on the rights of the states to govern their own internal affairs. Mr, Levy in his eagerness seems to have overlooked this. Let's hope he has second thoughts. Let us hope also that he gives serious thought to how we can control crime, violent crimes, without infringing on the hereditary and constitutional rights of a free people. There are two ways to do this: steps can be taken at all levels of government, local, state and federal, that are aimed at the law breaker not the law abider. They aren't new steps; they involve swift and sure punishment for those who are convicted of using deadly weapons, guns, knives, clubs and so forth, in the commission of crimes. In 17th century England highwaymen using loaded guns were executed. Nobody suggests that we go that far today but I believe it's imperative that every government, state and the federal, set mandatory prison sentences for persons using guns in the commission of crimes. Any person using a gun for criminal purposes should have the most stringent conditions attached to any possible parole too. I believe that criminals using guns should be barred from ever owning or using guns again. It should be made very difficult for such persons to incur any new debts to society. Many judges, many government officials and many citizens need to revise their thinking about the reason for laws and about the need for prisons. It seems to me the main purpose for prisons is to protect the law-abiding members of society from those who would prey upon them. A secondary purpose is to punish criminals with the idea that punishment is a deterrent to future crime. A third reason is to rehabilitate, but the fact is that rehabilitation is largely a myth. Some persons can be trained so they can earn honest livings, perhaps a few will even come to know the error of their ways, but let's not kid ourselves about the overall effectiveness of rehabilitation and let's not lose sight of the main purpose for putting people in prison. The right of society to protect itself from those who would disobey its laws. It's likely there would be less crime in America if more tough judges were appointed, if sure and swift justice were meted out and if more violent criminals were jailed. I for one would be grateful if the Attorney General would concentrate more on getting criminals behind bars and worry less about ways to take guns away from law abiding citizens. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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