I don't know Keith or Atkins' specific criminal history or even if they have any criminal history. But, if they did have a criminal record, and especially a violent criminal record (like T.I's record of assault on a police officer and numerous drug charges for distribution), I would be equally tough.
Mr. Harris's (T.I.'s real name) long criminal record plus the fact that he made this attempt to purchase machine guns WITH silencers while he was on probation, I believe are extenuating circumstances that demanded serious prison time.
Liberals want to take my right to own a gun away. They want to pass either confiscatory or regulatory legislation that make it impossible to own a weapon of almost any kind as a practical matter. I say in response, aggressively enforce the laws that are already on the books and when those laws are violated - apply the maximum penalty possible. That is the solution to the gun violence in America's urban areas - not the disarmament of the law-abiding public.
T.I's case is a prime example how weapons violations are a paper tiger; libs just want to disarm honest, law abiding citizens.
Okay, that sounds fair. At times, it seems like there is a double standard in justice, in the arena of public opinion. And the sympahty seems to depend on a person's background.
But if you say you'd be just as hard on Toby Keith or Trace Atkins, I'll take your word for it. Though, I do believe others, on this site, would have different sympathies.