No fear of prison

Regarding the Jan. 22 editorial "Youth and Guns: A Chilling Look Into a Pittsburgh Child's World": Once again the Post-Gazette sensationalizes gun violence with an admittedly "unscientific" survey, one that was limited to urban youth in a socio-economic group that has been long since left behind. Of course, "sensible gun laws" are again touted as the panacea to suddenly and permanently repair five generations of poverty, substandard housing, discrimination, excessive unemployment and other factors such as the drug trade that put these children in peril.

Where is the mayor's gang task force? Why are gun charges routinely dropped in our courts? Why are those who violate the 120 pages or so of Pennsylvania gun laws not incarcerated for the full ride? You do a horrible disservice to law-abiding firearms owners, and your journalistic principles are lacking. You must know that the one factor that encourages the criminal element is no fear of prison. The lawless are not prosecuted, and good men die.

I'd love to see a balanced investigative journalistic piece on prosecutorial malfeasance, or perhaps even misconduct, in Allegheny County. Revolving-door justice is killing urban youth. Report on it. Tell your readers. Perhaps looking up stats from the FBI and Pennsylvania courts is too much work?

 

JOHN DeLALLO
Bethel Park

 

The writer is a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant and a National Rifle Association certified instructor.