Tuesday’s murder of Jamal Coates and the spate of murders and gun crimes over the last six months draws attention to the need to make illegal gun possession by a felon a crime that will bring a mandatory sentence.  The Virginia Exile program provides a good model for DC to follow.

The Virginia program imposes the following penalties (from http://www.suffolk.va.us/cwatty/vaxylp.html)

Just like our slogan states, "It's Simple�You Do the Math!" Under Exile legislation, anyone faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years in a Virginia prison who:

• Has a prior conviction for a violent felony such as murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault or certain types of burglary and is convicted of possessing a firearm; or
• Is convicted of possessing a firearm within school property with the intent to use it, or displaying the weapon in a threatening manner; or
• Is convicted of possessing a firearm and an illegal drug, such as cocaine or heroin, with the intent to distribute.

Anyone who is convicted of possessing a firearm and an illegal drug such as cocaine or heroin faces a mandatory minimum two (2) to five (5) years in a Virginia prison.

Additionally, anyone who possesses a firearm and has a prior conviction for a non-violent felony such as larceny or drug possession will be exiled for two (2) years in addition to any other sentence imposed.

Under the chairmanship of my opponent, Phil Mendelson, the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary has failed to take action to send a message to criminals that illegal gun possession will not be tolerated. 

At the same time, DC makes it extremely difficult for a person to legally possess a gun.  This approach makes no sense.  Those committing crimes are not using legally registered weapons.  DC residents should be allowed to own a weapon without excessively cumbersome registration requirements.