What can we do to end this madness?

[BC38]

I read an article today about a fleeing suspect in NYC who mowed down 10 pedestrians trying to get away from the police in a stolen SUV. Fortunately when he crashed the SUV and tried to flee on foot bystanders tackled him and held him down until police arrived to take him into custody.
The thing that REALLY ticked me off about the article was the last line.

The suspect reportedly is known to police, with several previous arrests including two on gun charges and others for drug crimes.

So what the HELL was this guy doing on the street hurting innocent people? With multiple arrests for two gun charges and others for drug crimes why wasn't he behind bars?
We have got to start handing out real sentences to this kind of scum for breaking the laws that are already on the books instead of just letting them go and passing more laws that aren't going to be enforced anyway.

 

[Rustyt1953]

The pachyderm in the room sized clue to your query is the location where this took place.

 

[BC38]

The pachyderm in the room sized clue to your query is the location where this took place.

I get your point, but the sad fact is it isn't confined to one locale.
You see stories like this all over the place these days.
It seems like the vast majority of crimes are committed by a small percentage of the population. Recidivism seems to be the norm. What ever happened to the 3-strikes laws that were passed in so many places a couple of decades ago? Have they all been repealed?

 

[Racer X]

an unlimited number of second chances makes this happen daily. An honest to gosh 3 strikes your off the street forever would fix it.

 

[s&wchad]

This typically happens only in crime infested areas. They don't have the resources (funding, jail space) to lock up everyone who deserves it. The courts are also booked, so plea deals are the rule.

Detroit (Wayne County) is a good example. Offenders who would receive jail/prison time in nearby Oakland County for the same crime are often put on probation and released.

The mass shooter at Michigan State University had been previously arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a license, but it was pled down to a misdemeanor. That allowed him to buy another gun from an FFL. They could have tacked on Felony Firearm charges (mandatory 2 years), but that's seldom done.

 

[Racer X]

This typically happens only in crime infested areas. They don't have the resources (funding, jail space) to lock up everyone who deserves it. The courts are also booked, so plea deals are the rule.

Detroit (Wayne County) is a good example. Offenders who would receive jail/prison time in nearby Oakland County for the same crime are often put on probation and released.

The mass shooter at Michigan State University had been previously arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a license, but it was pled down to a misdemeanor. That allowed him to buy another gun from an FFL. They could have tacked on Felony Firearm charges (mandatory 2 years), but that's seldom done.

I firmly believe that if weapons charges weren't negotiable/avail for plea bargains, and mandatory charging for them every time, it would make a significant difference.

 

[biku324]

It's going the opposite direction starting withe the 'First Step Act' passed in 2018. Seems to me the natural result of early release of Federal prisoners is more crime.

"Within the first year of enactment, more than 3,000 federal prisoners were released based on changes to the good-time credits calculation formula under the First Step Act, and more than 2,000 inmates benefited from sentence reductions from the retroactive application of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.[41][42] Additionally, nearly 350 people were approved for elderly home confinement and more than 100 received compassionate release sentence reductions.[42] " - Wikipedia

 

[venomballistics]

I get your point, but the sad fact is it isn't confined to one locale.
You see stories like this all over the place these days.
It seems like the vast majority of crimes are committed by a small percentage of the population. Recidivism seems to be the norm. What ever happened to the 3-strikes laws that were passed in so many places a couple of decades ago? Have they all been repealed?

The three strikes laws looked great on paper, but ultimately, it comes up against the laws of physics. mainly, the one where two bodies of matter cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
As a result, three strikes laws became political toilet paper.
There just isn't any good solution left that won't bolster wood chipper sales and service. Some of us might not mind, but something with the appearance of genocide would not bode well come time for reelection.

 

[smoothshooter]

Not much. It's beyond fixing now. The fabric of western society has been unravelling for the last 15-20 years and accelerates every year.
Find a place to live out your days that is somewhat insulated from the current chaos and coming turmoil.
It will be the next generation's problem to deal with after old farts like me are gone. Most will adapt to the breakdown and learn to live with it ( after giving up a lot more of their freedoms, of course ).

 

[zeke]

We get what the majority votes for. Be glad you're not in illinoid that just eliminated cash bail?

 

[oldbrownhat]

The pachyderm in the room sized clue to your query is the location where this took place.

Not entirely. We have many such instances up north of 49 as well. And with the same M.O. - known to police, repeat offender, under ban for xyz....

Our "justice system"'s biggest operating expense is probably white lithium grease for the revolving doors.

Yet just down the road from me is Emma's Acres, "a farm that produces vegetables, herbs and fruits while employing offenders, ex-offenders and survivors/victims" which is losing Federal funding. It's been something of a local success story, which my credit union has supported.

They can't/won't keep the bad guys in jail, and drop funding for those that do want to try and turn their lives around. Go figger...

 

[psquarejr]

I'm waiting for them to charge the bystanders for attacking the the "suspect" and to ban SUV's.

 

[pharmer]

....... With multiple arrests for two gun charges and others for drug crimes why wasn't he behind bars?

1) Frees up space.
2) Ups the # of "case clearance."
3) Lowers incarceration stats, especially if minority.
4) Lowers area serious crime stats, important for real estate values.
5) Enables a "non-convicted felon" to vote with gratitude to those that freed him.
There's probably more but I'm on my 1st coffee, not enough blood flow to the brain, yet. Joe

 

[Mercury]

We have got to start handing out real sentences to this kind of scum for breaking the laws that are already on the books instead of just letting them go

Agreed, crime has to have consequences (a deterrent) otherwise it will continue to increase. In NYC, with free bail, it's become a revolving door.
It must be frustrating for the police to see the apprehended get released so quickly.

I cannot believe that anyone who understands human nature believes that this is a good way to prevent crime. If some evidence-based outcome data were analyzed, it would show how ineffective it is.

 

[johngalt]

We need more Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground self defense laws.

 

[zeke]

We need more Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground self defense laws.

Wisconsin may be cold in the winter, but we have very good Castle Doctrine and stand your ground laws. Including provision that shelters from private law suits.

 

[Rich Richardson]

Not uncommon is the driver who causes collisions with injuries and deaths and a license that was suspended 21 times.

 

[GypsmJim]

This typically happens only in crime infested areas. They don't have the resources (funding, jail space) to lock up everyone who deserves it. The courts are also booked, so plea deals are the rule.

Detroit (Wayne County) is a good example. Offenders who would receive jail/prison time in nearby Oakland County for the same crime are often put on probation and released.

The mass shooter at Michigan State University had been previously arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a license, but it was pled down to a misdemeanor. That allowed him to buy another gun from an FFL. They could have tacked on Felony Firearm charges (mandatory 2 years), but that's seldom done.

Not necessarily true. The new bail laws in NY affect the entire state.

 

[dockmurgw]

To say the reason is its in NY is beyond ridiculous. Happens everywhere.

 

[NFrameFred]

Great intelligent minds, people with caring beautiful souls and bleeding hearts, those whose faith is so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good, crew members on the Road To Hell paving crew, . . . we have devolved as a species to a condition of paralysis, because we've become so concerned about not offending, having compassion for, or making excuses for the cancer that we now are unable, unwilling, or too blinded by good intentions to make the unpopular hard choices to cut out the tumor.

In the mean time, the host gets sicker and sicker with predictable results and a fatal prognosis, since all of their band aid cures do not will not and never will solve the problem and our 'doctors' refuse to entertain (or at least admit) that truth.

Ya gotta love Russian old school thinking in philosophical terms . . . it was related one time when I grew up eons ago that the practice for a nuclear attack for school children my age at the time was to crawl under your desk and cover your head with your hands. When asked to comment, one somewhat honest Rusky said, "In Russia we simply tell our people that in the event of nuclear attack to pull a sheet over their head and walk to the nearest cemetery"

Jimmy Buffet put it a bit more succinctly in 'Waiting for the Next Explosion' . . . the third verse says


Back in the fifties they thought it made good sense
To teach all the school children about civil defense.
Don't be scared, do not cry,
Just dive under your desk and kiss your *** goodbye.

Seems to me that that's what we've returned to as a society . . . wring our hands, debate it to death, refuse to acknowledge the hard truth and wait for the tumor to kill us all.