[PapaBear3625]

My answer would be in two parts:

1) Why do you consider gun violence special? Are you any less dead if you are stabbed to death, or beaten to death?

2) The problem of violence come from allowing violent people loose on the street. According to a 2006 Dept of Justice paper:

* Thirty-six percent of violent felons had an active 
criminal justice status at the time of their arrest. 
This included 18% on probation, 12% on release 
pending disposition of a prior case, and 7% on 
parole.

* Seventy percent of violent felons had a prior arrest 
record, and 57% had at least one prior arrest for a 
felony. Sixty-seven percent of murderers and 73% of 
those convicted of robbery or assault had an arrest 
record.

* A majority (56%) of violent felons had a prior 
conviction record. Thirty-eight percent had a prior 
felony conviction and 15% had a previous conviction 
for a violent felony. 

Too many violent criminals are on the street due to plea bargains. We need to focus on keeping violent criminals in jail.

[Night Hides Not]

Too many violent criminals are on the street due to plea bargains. We need to focus on keeping violent criminals in jail.

Liberals crack me up: when I hear one say, "penalties for gun violence must be harsher", I respond "better start building more prisons".

The typical response? "Our prisons are overflowing now! Too many Americans are in jail now! We can't build more prisons!"