Henry wrote:
> Joseph sends us: > > ... > > A look beyond the handgun Ban > > By Murray Whyte > > Reporter > > The Toronto Star > > TheStar.com > > April 27, 2008 > > http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/418838 Therein ... ... a program called Project Safe Neighborhoods in two of its worst-afflicted districts. Working with academics like Tracey Meares, now a professor of law at Yale on the city's west side, Williams' force embraced a novel approach: Try talking to them. "The program focused on trying to get ahead of the problem: As a condition of parole, gun offenders had to sign a form stating they understood their next firearms offence would be pushed to the federal level, where sentences are sterner and parole nearly non-existent, to say nothing of where they're incarcerated. "You wake up on Idaho," Williams says. "That means your homies aren't driving 10 miles down the road to visit." Signing the form also obligates them to attend a forum, where they're told in no uncertain terms what can happen on their next gun conviction. Once they establish consequences, they throw them a rope: Education, emergency housing, medical attention for drug rehabilitation. The program also puts forward employers willing to give jobs to ex-offenders if they're sincere about wanting out. In other words, Richmond's Project Exile for two-time offenders with a carrot as well as a stick. Exile had a demonstratable effect, and it may be effective in Chicago. Chicago is going one step further by trying to deprogram shooters (potential or confirmed) at change attitudes and behaviors, which is the core of any violence problem (gun or otherwise). The reporter missed a beat however, noting "gun violence in Chicago has been declining steadily over the past 10 years" in the context of this program that has only existed since 2002. Likely not an intentional mislead, but I'm sure some will trip over this paragraph. Guy Smith www.GunFacts.info <http://www.gunfacts.info/>
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