nuts4chic - lifestyle
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Trigger Happy: The Alarming Reports Behind the Increase in Gun Crime by Christina Warner
Crime culture and gang warfare Tony Blair, has obviously been quick to address the public’s concerns; arguing that gun violence was not a "general state of British society" nor was such a generalisation a fair portrayal of “British young people". "It is about a specific problem within a specific criminal culture to do with guns and gangs, which doesn't make it any less serious, incidentally, but I think it's important therefore that we address that actual issue." Mr Blair concluded. He said it was about looking at how to "clamp down" on those young people who get into gangs at an early age and use guns. Mr Blair said US-style surveillance of the homes of people suspected of possessing guns or trading in them will also be considered. Mr Blair further denied that the announcements were a "knee-jerk response" to the recent killings due to gun crime related incidents. Mr. Blair also wants to lower the age to 17 at which young people can receive long prison sentences for possessing a gun. Announcing a firearms law review, he said he was considering lowering the age from 21 for a mandatory five-year jail term for carrying a gun. Also acknowledging that the problem may well be based upon gang activity and Mr. Blair has also announced his consideration of criminalising gang membership and how to protect people giving evidence. But some are weary of Mr. Blair’s proposals. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there were "no quick fixes" to the problem. "Rather than new laws we need more police and more effective policing,”. The problem seems to stem further than just the matter of possession of a firearm and rather that a generation of teenagers are turning to gangs as a matter of resolving other underlying issues. "All young people should feel they have a stake in society - effective schooling, more engaged youth services and better community support are all needed to help young people escape the cycle of deprivation and gang culture." He believed the gangs were trapped in a "vicious circle" of tit-for-tat shootings. Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "If you tell them they're going to spend 20, 30 or 40 years in prison, what difference does that mean to a young offender armed with a gun who has no value for life?” He continued, “These youngsters will live by the gun and die by the gun. These are walking assassins and walking assassins never care about the sentence they are going to get."
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