Ashcroft Calls For "Tougher Enforcement,"
Not New Laws
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"...Law-abiding
citizens have a right, under our Constitution, to have firearms..." |
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-- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft |
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AG Ashcroft |
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft appeared on
CNN's "Larry King Live," and spoke of his support of enforcing
existing laws against violent criminals who misuse firearms,
rather than passing new "gun control" laws. Ashcroft told King,
"I think we've got enough laws on the books. I think what we need
is tougher enforcement." This appearance was the first
opportunity for the Attorney General to make public statements
since he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, after one of
the most contentious confirmation battles the Senate has ever
seen.
Ashcroft said that under his stewardship, the Bush
Administration's Department of Justice would work to increase
federal prosecutions of "people who use guns in commission of a
crime." This, of course, would be in stark contrast to the
Clinton-Gore Administration, which had an abysmal record when it
came to prosecuting violations of federal gun laws.
The new
Attorney General stated that he plans to increase federal
involvement in prosecuting criminals who misuse firearms by
supporting programs such as the NRA-backed "Project Exile"
prosecution model that was developed in Richmond, Virginia.
"Project Exile" - a cooperative effort among local, state, and
federal law enforcement and prosecutors - targets violent felons
who violate firearm laws, then seeks the most stringent penalties
available. The program has been credited with a dramatic
reduction in Richmond's homicide and gun-related crime rates,
which Ashcroft pointed out, and he continued by commenting that
he hoped to take "Project Exile" nationwide.
It's certainly good to see a U.S. Attorney General who is
interested in aggressively targeting violent criminals, rather
than constantly harassing law-abiding citizens. Even more
heartening, though, is knowing that we now have a U.S. Attorney
General who supports the individual right to arms. Ashcroft took
the time during his appearance to remind King that, "Law-abiding
citizens have a right, under our Constitution, to have firearms."
The last stated Justice Department official position was that
"the Second Amendment does not extend an individual right to keep
and bear arms."
Related Stories...
What was the Clinton-Gore-Reno Administration Hiding?
Federal Prosecution Failures Documented
The "Project Exile" Prosecution Model
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