Today, Chaka Fattah will release a plan for fighting illegal guns in Philadelphia. This is part of the candidate's crime plan, which was developed by a group led by Lawrence Sherman, the University of Pennsylvania criminologist.
The plan calls for more cops to investigate illegal guns and homicides, more money to reward tipsters who lead cops to illegal guns (something he plans to launch immediately) and more surveillance cameras monitoring high-crime areas.
It's important to note that this is only Fattah's gun plan, a part of a larger plan to fight crime. He seems to be planning a number of press conferences that will detail parts of the plan.
Comments, anyone?
(Not to be outdone, Dwight Evans, we understand, is planning a crime-focused event this afternoon. We plan to have reporters at each event.)
Comments (2)
Well, it looks like he's mainly suggesting the expansion of a couple existing programs (GRRIP and cameras). As far as GRRIP, I don't think the police should have to pay people to help them. It sets a dangerous precedent. Also, does anyone know how the program works? Does the person the illegal gun is confiscated from get prison time? If not, it sounds like the program is just asking to be abused.
He also doesn't seem to have said how he's going to fix the prison overcrowding problem in order to make gun offenders serve maximum sentences. It could mean people who have committed minor crimes getting off scott-free (which is a valid strategy, but he should be up-front about it, if that's what he plans).
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 8, 2007 10:02 AM
I think that with all the talk about the guns and the talk about the murders,no one has even begun to see the real problem,or maybe they do.My solution is very simple,make EMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE TO PERSONS INTERESTED. Alot of the crimes are being committed by recently released felons or at least statistically speaking. I can see why crime is exploding in the city,it's hard to live.Convicted felons in the state of PA are hard pressed to find work and decent wages. I guess that, if work is available to someone who is looking for it then people wouldn't need to find other ways to survive. I mean really survive,pay bills,rent,clothe and feed themselves and their children. Once people can earn a decent wage and not be turned away from employment because of a conviction that is 3yrs old instead of 5, i am sure that the crime rate would drop. As it stands now a felon could work for a company through an agency and make 6.50 an hr but can't work directly for the company to make 12.00 an hr because of the felony. Is that ok?
Posted by Jay | January 16, 2007 3:46 AM