The Contra Costa District Attorney Bob Kochly has decided that do to budget cuts, his office will not prosecute all crimes.
I didn't have much problem with it until I got to this point
For misdemeanors, we will continue to review and file the following types of cases:
1. All DUI cases;
2. All domestic violence misdemeanors, including domestic violence restraining order violations;
3. Misdemeanor weapons cases if the weapon is a firearm (e.g., 417, 12025, 12031). Conversely, we will no longer review or file any non-firearm misdemeanor weapons cases (e.g., 653k, nunchuks, dirk or dagger, billy, etc.);7. Cases of assault with a weapon and some degree of injury will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for filing, but must also be presented in person to the appropriate misdemeanor filing deputy by your agency (no drop-offs).
Guess some weapons are more equal then others. Does the District Attorney not care that a prohibited person was found with a weapon as long as it isn't a firearm?
Guess they might prosecute if there was an assault and some injury, care to bet which cases won't be prosecuted? (Hint, it might be NON-FIREARM WEAPON Cases).
This is especially disappointing seeing considering that 90% of all violent crime is committed without using a firearm.
Is this going to encourage criminals to NOT use firearms, perhaps?
Is it going to encourage criminals to commit more non-firearm related crimes, perhaps - probably. Criminals know the risk/reward equation very well. When you have a District Attorney announcing his intention not to prosecute non-firearm related crimes, it certainly lowers the risk.
Please leave a comment and tell me what you think.
3 comments:
Bob, Your oft-quoted, "90% of all violent crime is committed without using a firearm" isn't really the point. The point could be this: what percentage of assaults with a gun are deadly compared to assaults with a knife? Everybody in the world, except you gun guys with your agenda, can see why guns are singled out.
MikeB,
65%-75% of all homicides are committed with firearms. We've stated that repeatedly.
And your point is what?
That we should only care about crimes that end with people dying?
Sorry if I'm concerned also about getting slammed over the head with a tire iron for my wallet.
Or if my wife and daughter will be assaulted and raped at knife point.
It is the point. Crime is crime. Focus on the crime and not the tool used. The District Attorney is giving a free pass to criminals.
Look at number 3 again. See that he will file charges on a firearm crime but not a non-firearm crime.
Now, the District Attorney is saying that the same crime committed with a firearm will get attention but the same crime with a knife won't get attention.
So, more criminals switch to knives...and commit more crimes or at least aren't charged for the crimes. End Result.....more crime, not less.
How does it make sense that the same crime doesn't get the same result?
"So, more criminals switch to knives...and commit more crimes or at least aren't charged for the crimes. End Result.....more crime, not less."
This has been shown happening in many urban gang conflicts. Criminals know the loopholes in the law and take precautions against them.
One of the best example is gang members travel in pairs, one just shy of his 18th Birthday. The "Child" will carry the gun and hand it off to the shooter when the time comes. The shooter will do his dirty work, then hand the gun back to the minor and escape.
If the shooter is caught he'll be charged with a gun crime, but no gun will be recovered, plea bargain HEAVEN right there. He get's parole. (note that NOBODY will testify against a gang member in most cities as the other member will make it known they will retaliate. Justice to a dead stranger isn't worth the "Snitch's" life, so they shut up. 70% of all Murders in Boston go "unsolved" tho Boston Cops I talk with KNOW who the killers are)
If the juvinile is caught he'll have an illigal weapon, but will have no evedence of being the shooter. Weak case, also plea bargain heaven, and worse case scenario he'll be charged as a minor and only do time in a Juvenile facility until he's 21.
All that's being done here is making a MUCH WIDER loophole for violent people to squeeze through. Even if they KILL somebody, only a 30% chance procicution will have enugh of a case to bring the killer down. best they'll have is a knife charge, which no judge wouldn't accept a plea on as knife laws are VERY weak...as they should be, given that we all have "murder weapons" in our Kitchen.
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