Adopt smart approach to gun violence

In the past week or so, radio ads outlining the concept of a federal program designed to reduce firearms violence, called Cease Fire, have been aired by the U.S. Attorney in Savannah. This program actually has been in place for many years, but had not been widely adopted by many local law enforcement agencies and federal attorneys, for reasons that have evaded me.

In places that have adopted this program on a broad scale, firearms violence has been dramatically affected. It is a program that demonstrably works. The primary thrust of the program is to use federal firearms laws to incarcerate criminals in federal prison for lengths of time that far exceed that which would have been imposed by prosecuting under state law. Basically, violent criminals are taken out of society for extended periods.

As a member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association for some years, I can advise you that the NRA has and continues to wholeheartedly endorse this program. Indeed, it was a favorite topic for then-NRA President Charlton Heston. Every citizen who is concerned about violent crime should also embrace this excellent program and support vigorous enforcement and prosecution of violent firearms offenders.

Additionally, participation in Neighborhood Watch and other cooperative programs sponsored by our local law enforcement agencies has been shown to help reduce crime of all types.

Our judicial system and law enforcement agencies are here to serve us. We need to let them know that we endorse their courageous daily efforts to remove violent criminals from our communities using tools such as Cease Fire.

Phillip A. Williams