Philly Police officer that understands the problem

[WhiteFeather]

Don't know IF any one got a copy of this email from the anti-gunner "cease fire" organization in early april 2007 complaining about a Philly police officers opinion in a newspaper.

A commonsense statement from a law-enforcement officer.
Please see the letter to the editor from the Philly Inquirer below that has Cease Fire upset. Then write to the paper and let them know that you agree with Detective Fox. Quit punishing the law-abiding citizens. Stop the "Catch & Release" programs for criminals and keep them in jail. And don't forget to thank Detective Fox for speaking the truth.


----- Original Message -----
From: CeaseFire PA
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: Please write in today



Dear Friends,


Please take a few minutes today and write a letter to the editor in response to the following opinion piece, which appears in today's Inquirer. In particular, we are asking people to respond to the comment we've highlighted in bold and red, below.


We are dismayed that someone so high up in the Philadelphia Police Department would suggest that this is an either-or situation, and hope to set the record straight with a flurry of correspondence.


If you want a few ideas on what to say, you can visit these websites:
www.handgunsanity.org or www.ceasefirepa.org or www.pathcoalition.org.



Submissions to the main letters section may be e-mailed to Inquirer.Letters@phillynews.com; mailed to Readers Editor, The Inquirer, Box 41705, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101; or faxed to 215-854-4483.o:

CeaseFire PA is sending a response on behalf of the organization, but the more people the editors hear from, the better. We'd appreciate you copying us on your correspondence, as well.




ONE READER'S VIEW
Letters | Put the blame where it lies: The killers
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opini...ders_View.html

We have to stop pointing the finger everywhere but at the very people who prey on us each day. Over time we have allowed our value system to erode. We refuse to hold people accountable for their actions and constantly make excuses for their inexcusable behavior. The incessant cry for tougher gun laws is a good example. Until we're ready to strictly enforce the current laws there is no reason for tougher ones.

Yes, there is a need to work on the social ills at the core of much of the unrest, but that does not mean we should accept those ills as a reason to excuse the behavior. Those engaged in this violent lifestyle know exactly what they're doing. They also know it is wrong. And they also know there are no serious consequences for their actions. It's not a matter of not knowing right from wrong, it's a matter of weighing the risk. And today they face very little risk.

Time after time these budding killers are arrested with guns, only to be returned to the streets with a slap on the wrist. Is it any wonder we have trouble getting witnesses to speak up? Instead of holding vigils at murder scenes, groups like Men United for a Better Philadelphia and Mothers in Charge should throw a ring around the Criminal In-Justice Center and demand that our judges hold the criminals accountable.

More than 80 percent of Philadelphia's cold-blooded killers have criminal records. Most of those records are lengthy, many for violent crimes. Every one of those arrests represents an opportunity to send a clear message, before they take another life.

Joseph Fox
Chief of Detectives
Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia

[roland]

This is my reply to the Editor of Philly.com abut an article they ran at:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opini...ders_View.html



Dear Mr Donahue,

I read the views of Det. Joseph Fox on Philly.com and applaud his efferts and agree with him wholeheartedly. I went to Harrisburg about a month ago to express my opposition to HB 760 as well as many other HBs. Many of us stated to legislators to use the existing gun laws where if a criminal is caught using a gun in a violent act they are to get an automatic 5 year sentence- apparently this is always plea bargined away. As the secretaries of the legislators told us "There arn't enough jails and building them would be too costly". I think this is where a problem exists and how are we to expect our legislators to be accountable if we don't make the criminals accountable?

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

[bondc]

Here's another Philly cop with sense.