Very touching, I wish I could say something to soften your grief. Saying that most politicians are more concerned with appearing compassionate than seriously addressing the issue of violent crime probably won't help.
Pols make noise about getting tough on crime, oh, they might pass a few decent sounding laws, with loop holes in them..but some goody two shoes State or Federal judges comes along and negates even that. No this is a game with Pols, noting more...UNLESS it's one of their family who gets killed or raped, then you see them get outraged and actually DO something. Our DUI laws were the pits on punishment UNTIl a Nashville judge's daughter got slaughtered by a multi-timed drunk driver..Then the laws got fixed up a little stronger.
We don't have enough prison space for several reasons, cost which is driven by politics. liberal judges and the aclu, the minority consitutents holler loudly when you lock up to many of their feral youth, and then you don't get re-elected.