Advantages of Criminals Using Imitation Guns

In Iowa, criminals who use imitation guns are not treated as harshly under the law as are criminals who use real guns. It seems an obvious policy decision. When criminals use imitation guns, the vast majority of the risk is on the criminal. They are more likely to be shot. They are not able to shoot back. They are relying on the power of bluff and image to coerce people who they are attempting to victimize. It seems like a win-win for law and order.

In a recent AP article, a county attorney and a police chief want to change that. From usnews.com:

I once knew a convicted armed robber who told me that, before going in to rob, you have to mentally prepare yourself to gun down everyone in the place, just in case some idiot decides to endanger you by doing something stupid.

What he would think of someone going in with a fake weapon, I can only imagine. But it would probably go something like this. If you endanger yourself committing a crime by hoping to get a lesser sentence if caught, you probably shouldn’t be in the business.

If its committing a crime of their own volition/decision/free will, should be treated like its real live weapon. Sentence should reflect it. Why docthey deserve any break, no one knows it and since criminals often get the murder charges if one of their fellow crooks is shot and dies during the crime, that fake gun put peoples lives at risk.

In Iowa, criminals who use imitation guns are not treated as harshly under the law as are criminals who use real guns. It seems an obvious policy decision.

It might "seem" like it, but it's actually bad policy.

When criminals use imitation guns, the vast majority of the risk is on the criminal. They are more likely to be shot.

Boo fvcking hoo. Maybe they should have thought about that before robbing a gas station or liquor store. They are threatening deadly force, the fact they are not able to effect deadly force is not known by the victims. The gun may be fake, however the fear is not. Further, whatever calamity befalls the perpetrator here is his fault alone, for he is the proximate cause.

They are not able to shoot back. They are relying on the power of bluff and image to coerce people who they are attempting to victimize. It seems like a win-win for law and order.

Again this makes no sense. They aren't "attempting" to victimize anyone, they are in fact victimizing their neighbors. Don't be fooled.

They should be incarcerated with very nearly the same penalties if not in fact the same penalties. They are in fact threatening deadly force. It is not up to the victims to decide instantly if they are necessarily sincere or fully capable. How am I to know in a split second if some nutjob really has a functioning gun, a loaded gun, a fake gun etc etc? "Don't Start None, There Won't Be None."

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