02-03-2016, 11:37 AM
I understand what you're saying, F.U.
But, it's not only about making a criminal think twice and refrain, due to fear of harsher punishment if caught. I think it's as much or more about minimizing that criminal's future opportunities to commit more crimes and/or more serious crimes if caught.
Burt the New Hampshire burglar has been ripping off houses for years; jewelry, cash, electronics, guns... Next month, after the bill is passed into law, he hits a house and finds a couple of pistols in the sock drawer; Burt steals them. That house happens to have surveillance and Burt finally gets ID'd; police find the stolen goods from his last couple of burglaries when they execute a search warrant. Because he stole guns, instead of getting a couple of years behind bars and probation, Burt's looking at 20 years because of the guns he stole. I don't have a problem with that.
But, it's not only about making a criminal think twice and refrain, due to fear of harsher punishment if caught. I think it's as much or more about minimizing that criminal's future opportunities to commit more crimes and/or more serious crimes if caught.
Burt the New Hampshire burglar has been ripping off houses for years; jewelry, cash, electronics, guns... Next month, after the bill is passed into law, he hits a house and finds a couple of pistols in the sock drawer; Burt steals them. That house happens to have surveillance and Burt finally gets ID'd; police find the stolen goods from his last couple of burglaries when they execute a search warrant. Because he stole guns, instead of getting a couple of years behind bars and probation, Burt's looking at 20 years because of the guns he stole. I don't have a problem with that.