A Real Fix for Gun Crimes: Put Lawbreakers Away
It is almost farcical to see Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins pretend that the package of additional gun restrictions will alter New York’s crime pattern (“Unforced Error,” Tom Suozzi, June 6).
They have done nothing about the revolving door of hooligans and their violence.
There is a chance that these moves might reduce the chances of a horrible — but rare — mass shooting. That said, every citizen on our streets remains on his own and in jeopardy.
If the Supreme Court loosens gun restrictions here, the government can’t simultaneously fail to protect the innocent while keeping the lawabiding, background checked and trained citizens disarmed.
Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld
Great Neck
Democratic politicians need to use a little common sense and realize that until we change the bail laws, these changes to gun laws are useless.
When people commit crimes, they need to be arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated. How many more people are going to die before they realize we’ve got to change the bail laws? Gene O’Brien
Whitestone
New York’s governor seems like someone who would attempt to thwart a sudden rash of arson fires in old, abandoned buildings by mandating that state-of-the-art fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems be installed in all new construction.
Now we will have more laws that will likely have little-to-no positive impact on the core problems, but Hochul will be able to say with a straight face that she did something about gun violence when re-election time rolls around.
And, throughout all of this sorrow, outrage, political posturing and grandstanding, no one is willing to hold any of the law-enforcement agencies, social-media platforms, therapists, counselors or other government agencies accountable for ignoring or disregarding these mass shooters’ prior incidents, online screeds and assorted red flags. Why? Vincent Ruggiero
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Changing gun laws will not help. Almost anyone can get any kind of weapon, regardless of whether it is legal or not.
What we need are stiffer penalties, like a minimum of 10 years in jail for possession of an illegal handgun.
It’s about time that this country got a backbone and stopped being wimpy when it comes to penalties for crimes. Thomas Sarc
Central Islip