A Bipartisan Way to Actually Reduce Gun Violence

Since Newtown, almost all the focus has been on the specific weapons and other factors that led to that tragedy (and similar ones that have occurred over the last few years). The discussions have focused on things like banning assault rifles, limiting clip sizes, doing more extensive background checks on (more) gun buyers, identifying ways of keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, and so on.

Notice the very narrow focus on stopping this particular event from happening again.

In part this narrow focus is understandable, caused by our horror at what happened. But we must also realize that what has been proposed so far has a very narrow focus.

The larger problem of gun violence has been overlooked in our rush to address the specifics of Newtown. Perhaps "larger problem" doesn't do it justice. Everyday gun violence in America is horrendous. In the short time since Newtown, as of March 10, there have been 2,574 people killed by guns in the United States. Almost 92 times as many as died at Newtown!

And yet, there is almost nothing being done about it, this larger dimension of the gun-violence problem.

Here is a way to effectively deal with that larger problem, a truly bipartisan idea that - with your support - would appeal to groups across the political spectrum, for reasons I think you'll readily see:

Let's penalize the USE of guns in a CRIME far more heavily than we do today. Let's finally begin treating gun violence ITSELF as the truly serious crime we all agree that it is.

How? It's pretty simple, really. It's called the PLUS-15 Rule: If someone fires or brandishes a gun – any gun – in the commission of a crime, they will automatically get an additional 15 years tacked on to their sentence. Period.

It sounds awfully harsh, doesn't it? And it is. Intentionally. It is harsh and it is meant to sound harsh. Because it has to break through the numbness that too often affects our (and criminals') perceptions of gun-use. Gun-use in crime has become a commonplace in America. What we expect to hear on the News at Eleven. What should outrage us - say, a guy using a gun to rob a candy store - is seen as just part of the usual picture. We hardly notice it as the shocking violation of people – a threat of DEATH – that it truly is.

To capture the attention of those who would use guns to terrify and harm us, harsh, eye-catching change is an unavoidable, necessary step.

If those considering going armed are forced to look at the gun as a guaranteed +15 years in prison, they WILL hesitate to carry, and maybe even hesitate to own.

If we all agree that we really don't want criminals using guns to commit crimes, if we really MEAN it, then let the penalty fit that intention. Let's write serious law that will say, loud and clear, "Don't Use a Gun."

Similar laws have been tried here and there, typically with just 5-year additions to sentences, but they have had only limited effect.The fact is that 5 years is simply not enough. What is enough? Confront potential gun-users with a stretch in prison long enough to take a person from one stage of life to another, from 19 to 34, from 25 to 40, from 37 to 52. One that's long enough to make that person think twice, even if he thinks he'll live forever.

The PLUS-15 idea WILL have an affect on the predators who use guns against law-abiding citizens.

Politically, the PLUS-15 proposal would get broad, bipartisan support. It's a good bet that even the NRA would favor such a law. Why? Because PLUS-15 isolates only the deliberate, CRIMINAL use of a gun against people, rather than outlawing ownership or creating background-check hurdles, etc. In essence it is what the NRA has been calling for all along: that only the criminal use of a gun should be isolated and punished. The PLUS-15 idea doesn't prevent gun ownership, and yet it would almost certainly reduce premeditated gun violence. It would still allow homeowners and other average citizens to own guns for protection if they so desire. And PLUS-15 would not – in any way – infringe on 2nd Amendment rights.

Another thing: whether or not PLUS-15 works as a deterrent (let's face it, criminals don't think they'll get caught at all, so a stiffer sentence may not deter all of them), it will still take the **#!!??!*s who choose to use guns against us off our streets for a good, long time. We'll be safer and their pals will sooner or later start to get the message.

This is an effective step that we can actually take right now politically. Both sides would actually – maybe even eagerly – go for it.

Support the PLUS-15 idea and help make it the law of the land.