Florida developed this tiered approach to dealing with gun-related crime. It has apparently worked well. Indiana Senate District 30 candidate Steve Keltner is pushing for a similar law in Indiana. Given the crime rate we continue to see in Indianapolis alone, there’s ample reason to pursue it. Of the 96 homicides so far in Indianapolis during 2008, 74 have been by firearm. Just stop and think: How many of those 74 might still be alive if their killers had been given an extra 10 or 20 years because they used a gun in a previous crime? Instead of being out in 3-5 years, they would have still been behind bars.

Gun control laws are wrong on their face and they don’t work anyway. They only affect the law-abiding citizen. The 10-20-LIFE program targets the criminal element. That’s what we need. Spread the word about 10-20-LIFE

10-20-LIFE has helped to drive down Florida’s violent-gun crime rates by 30%. The state’s 2004, “Index Crime” rate is now the lowest in 34 years, and the violent crime rate is the lowest in a quarter century.

The 10-20-LIFE public information program continues. The Florida Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Executive Office of the Governor, and the Florida Legislature continue to inform the public that Florida’s tolerance for crime is over. Staff from the Department of Corrections has provided several community presentations on gun violence, and distributed materials about 10-20-LIFE.

In 1998, criminals in Florida used guns to commit 31,643 violent felonies, including 13,937 armed robberies. That year, the mandatory punishment for using a gun to commit a violent felony was only three years in prison. During his campaign for Governor in 1998, Jeb Bush proposed the toughest gun-crime law in the nation: 10-20-LIFE. Under 10-20-LIFE, a felon who used a gun to commit a crime like armed robbery would face at least 10 years in state prison.

The 1999 Florida Legislature passed sweeping legislation that provides for enhanced minimum mandatory prison terms for offenders who commit crimes with guns.

10-20-LIFE

• Mandates a minimum 10 year prison term for certain felonies, or attempted felonies in which the offender possesses a firearm or destructive device
• Mandates a minimum 20 year prison term when the firearm is discharged
• Mandates a minimum 25 years to LIFE if someone is injured or killed
• Mandates a minimum 3 year prison term for possession of a firearm by a felon
• Mandates that the minimum prison term is to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed

The ten-year track record in Florida has shown that the idea works. Contact Steve, or whomever is your senator or representative, to voice your support. Steve is actively recruiting volunteers to help spread the word on this concept. Contact him at either votekeltner@comcast.net or (317) 352-2220, contact your friends, contact the media.

Steve Keltner’s blog page on 10-20-LIFE

DefenseHelp.com – Details on how Florida’s law works.

Tags:   10-20-life · gun crime · Steve KeltnerNo Comments