New York
Related: About this forumGun-control group backs new legislation
by Joseph Spector
Legislation that imposes harsher penalties for gun crimes involving children introduced this week gained support from a state gun control group on Friday.
“Luisito’s Law” would make discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a park, playground or schoolyard a class C felony with a three and a half to 15 year prison sentence and make shooting a victim under the age of 10 a class B felony, with a five to 25 year prison sentence.
The law is named after three year-old Luisito Oyola Jr. was shot in the arm after two men got into a gunfight in a Bronx park last August, Gannett’s Ashley Hupfl reports.
“We cannot allow our parks and playgrounds to become ground zero for senseless gun crimes,” Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein and sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “Right now, parks and playground are leaving children and families far too vulnerable. These should be safe havens, not shooting ranges. Luisto’s Law will send a very clear message to out state’s criminals: if you take aim at our children, we’ll fire right back.”
http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2014/02/23/gun-control-group-backs-new-legislation/
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Hoyt
(54,770 posts)
wercal
(1,370 posts)Don't you have to be a policeman or private security guard to legally carry a gun in NYC?
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)I highly doubt the ones in the gun fight did. I have now big issues with increasing penalties, as long as it applies to all.
Associates defend man who had gun in school
Say he made honest mistake in incident prompting school lockdown
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo-public-schools/associates-defend-man-who-had-gun-in-school-20140207
wercal
(1,370 posts)His name is Alexis Tatis - link:
http://bronx.news12.com/news/alexis-tatis-charged-in-shooting-that-wounded-2-at-vidalia-park-including-a-3-year-old-1.5994636
You can seen he was initially charged with second degree attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and assault.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Suspect-Alexis-Tatis-Arrested-Firing-Shots-Bronx-Park-Injured-Toddler--221929371.html
However the attempted murder charge was dropped, as well as the criminal possession of a weapon charge. This is something I have never understood - why not enforce the laws against attempted murder? Or how about enforce the law against criminal possession of a weapon? I guess I'm not really opposed to a new law against shooting near a park...but what's the point, if the prosecutor won't go the full monte with the current laws on the books? Really....somebody explain to me why the prosecutor doesn't think he has a good case on the weapon charge?
Anyway, this fella didn't have a permit whatsoever. He was criminally possessing a firearm. Somehow, although the state of New York doesn't see fit to prosecute that violation, this new law will protect people...I guess, sort of.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Ji hope that the law does some good but I am not sure it can get through the state senste.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)why this new law will be enforced when existing laws on the books are not. He should be charged to the full extent of existing laws.
wercal
(1,370 posts)It seems that when Mr. Tatis was arrested, he was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia...possibly the second offense.
http://www.new-york-mugshots.com/Counties/Queens-County/Alexis-Tatis.17974215.html
So he's been charged with possession of drugs, illegal weapons possession, attempted murder...
...and its all been reduced down to an assault charge, that can carry a sentence as low as 18 months.
And this new law can swoop in and make people like Alexis Tatis serve more time in the future.
The cynic in me is working overtime.
