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Letter to the Star

Unequal justice?

Today's Sunday Star has an article concerning the local PD's crackdown on career criminals.  Quoted from the article is the following:  "The recent target, for example, had been caught four times carrying a concealed weapon. If detectives catch him carrying a gun again, he could go back to prison for five years under federal law."  Obviously, the police had originally A.) Refused to refer those charges to the county prosecutor, or B.) The prosecutor declined to pursue state charges against this career criminal.  A state charge of carrying a concealed weapon in Missouri carries heavy prison time - but only if it is prosecuted.

There is also a C.) in this case:  The cases could have been referred to the federal attorney, as the Gun Control Act of 1968 absolutely prohibits the ownership of weapons by a convicted felon - let alone, carrying them concealed!

I guess you have to be a lone, scared woman from Oklahoma traveling to the big city to really catch the authorities' attention?

Why do the career criminals seem to catch all the breaks?

Brad Alpert

Unequal justice?

The Sunday Star had an article concerning the local Police Department's crackdown on career criminals (B-1). Quoted from the article is the following: "The recent target, for example, had been caught four times carrying a concealed weapon. If detectives catch him carrying a gun again, he could go back to prison for five years under federal law."

Obviously, the police had originally (a) Refused to refer those charges to the county prosecutor, or (b) the prosecutor declined to pursue state charges against this career criminal.

A state charge of carrying a concealed weapon in Missouri carries heavy prison time -- but only if it is prosecuted.

There is also a (c) in this case: The cases could have been referred to the federal attorney, as the Gun Control Act of 1968 absolutely prohibits the ownership of weapons by a convicted felon -- let alone carrying them concealed.

I guess you have to be a lone, scared woman from Oklahoma traveling to the big city to really catch the authorities' attention.

Why do the career criminals seem to catch all the breaks?

Brad Alpert
Kingsville, Mo.