EXILE PLAN WOULD PREVENT GUN CRIMES

I recently proposed "Michigan Exile," an innovative approach to combat gun
violence. The plan, modeled after similar federal programs in Richmond,
Va., and Texas, calls for a mandatory one-year state prison term along with
a presumption of no bond for any convicted felon found in possession of a
gun or ammunition.

Your March 18 editorial "Sentencing Sense: For guns, new rule for felons
isn't needed" suggested that the plan may be appropriate for violent felons
but not appropriate for "nonviolent" felons. News flash: An armed
"nonviolent" felon, whether previously convicted for dealing drugs, retail
fraud or felony stalking, is a violent felony waiting to happen.

We should not have to wait until a victim is assaulted, raped, shot or
killed before there is an effective response from our criminal justice
system. If we are serious about breaking the culture of gun violence,
felons who choose to arm themselves must be deterred before they choose
their next victim.

In Wayne County alone, over two-thirds of handgun homicides are committed
by those previously convicted of a felony. Nearly half of the defendants
arrested for homicide have a prior court contact for carrying a concealed
pistol or other firearm-related felony.

The current two-year sentencing enhancement for felonies committed with a
firearm applies only after a homicide, rape, armed robbery or shooting has
occurred -- a charge too often dismissed as part of a plea bargain and too
late for the victim of the crime.

To deter handgun violence before it occurs, the consequences to convicted
felons for gun possession need to be clear and consistent.

It's only through guaranteed punishment and consistent consequences that we
can change the behavior of felons who otherwise might be tempted to pack a
weapon.

The Exile concept has worked in Richmond, it worked in then-Gov. George
Bush's Texas, and it will work in Michigan, too.

Dick Posthumus Lt. Governor, State of Michigan