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BATF Agent Reveals Gross Gun-Stupidity While Promo
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
BATF Agent Reveals Gross Gun-Stupidity While Promoting "Project Exile"
Fewer criminals caught in EBR with illegal guns
By BRETT BARROUQUERE
bbarrouquere@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
The number of illegal guns seized from criminals in East Baton Rouge Parish has dropped each year since 1998, a federal law-enforcement agent said Tuesday.
About 1,300 guns were seized at crime scenes and from criminals in 1998, with the number dropping to 700 guns seized in 2001, said Jerry Dennis, resident agent in charge of the Baton Rouge office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. In 1999, the number of guns seized was 1,100, and in 2000, the number was 900.
U.S. Attorney David Dugas attributed the decline to "Project Exile," a gun-eradication program used by law enforcement in the parish. The first full year for the program was 1999.
"We're seeing a wide impact," Dugas said.
Dugas, Dennis, Mayor Bobby Simpson and others released the figures at a news conference Tuesday morning to promote "Project Exile" and introduce "Project Safe Neighborhoods" and "Project Century." The news conference was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Gus Young Avenue.
All three programs involve law enforcement agencies working with community groups, such as 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. The campaign includes billboards, television ads and workshops with young people.
Under "Project Exile," someone caught with an illegal weapon or violating the law with a weapon may be prosecuted in federal court.
Handguns are the most common type of weapon seized, with the ones used most frequently in crimes being a 9 mm pistol, a .380-caliber pistol, a .25-caliber pistol and a .38-caliber revolver, Dennis said.
"These aren't the type of guns you have in your gun closet to go hunting or target shooting," Dennis said.
Since 1999, 250 people have been indicted under "Project Exile" with four being acquitted and 16 having the indictment dismissed, according to statistics released by ATF.
"Everybody else has done time and been made to pay for it," Dugas said.
Those convictions have resulted in an average sentence of just more than five years in prison, Dennis said.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods" is an education program that works in conjunction with "Project Exile," Dugas said.
Under "Project Safe Neighborhoods," children are educated about the dangers of illegal firearms and the penalties for getting caught with illegal weapons, Dugas said.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods" is being done in addition to "Project Exile," Simpson said. "This is an exciting program."
A federal prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jefferson, has been assigned to handle cases brought under the new initiative, Dugas said.
Along with "Project Safe Neighborhoods" is "Project Century," which is aimed at reducing gun violence among young people, Dugas said. The targeted group is people ages 6 to 17.
That initiative doesn't mean juveniles will be hauled into federal court and prosecuted, Dugas said.
"We will prosecute adults who put guns into the hands of juveniles," Dugas said.
http://www.theadvocate.com/stories/082102/new_guns001.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Fewer criminals caught in EBR with illegal guns
By BRETT BARROUQUERE
bbarrouquere@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
The number of illegal guns seized from criminals in East Baton Rouge Parish has dropped each year since 1998, a federal law-enforcement agent said Tuesday.
About 1,300 guns were seized at crime scenes and from criminals in 1998, with the number dropping to 700 guns seized in 2001, said Jerry Dennis, resident agent in charge of the Baton Rouge office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. In 1999, the number of guns seized was 1,100, and in 2000, the number was 900.
U.S. Attorney David Dugas attributed the decline to "Project Exile," a gun-eradication program used by law enforcement in the parish. The first full year for the program was 1999.
"We're seeing a wide impact," Dugas said.
Dugas, Dennis, Mayor Bobby Simpson and others released the figures at a news conference Tuesday morning to promote "Project Exile" and introduce "Project Safe Neighborhoods" and "Project Century." The news conference was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Gus Young Avenue.
All three programs involve law enforcement agencies working with community groups, such as 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. The campaign includes billboards, television ads and workshops with young people.
Under "Project Exile," someone caught with an illegal weapon or violating the law with a weapon may be prosecuted in federal court.
Handguns are the most common type of weapon seized, with the ones used most frequently in crimes being a 9 mm pistol, a .380-caliber pistol, a .25-caliber pistol and a .38-caliber revolver, Dennis said.
"These aren't the type of guns you have in your gun closet to go hunting or target shooting," Dennis said.
Since 1999, 250 people have been indicted under "Project Exile" with four being acquitted and 16 having the indictment dismissed, according to statistics released by ATF.
"Everybody else has done time and been made to pay for it," Dugas said.
Those convictions have resulted in an average sentence of just more than five years in prison, Dennis said.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods" is an education program that works in conjunction with "Project Exile," Dugas said.
Under "Project Safe Neighborhoods," children are educated about the dangers of illegal firearms and the penalties for getting caught with illegal weapons, Dugas said.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods" is being done in addition to "Project Exile," Simpson said. "This is an exciting program."
A federal prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jefferson, has been assigned to handle cases brought under the new initiative, Dugas said.
Along with "Project Safe Neighborhoods" is "Project Century," which is aimed at reducing gun violence among young people, Dugas said. The targeted group is people ages 6 to 17.
That initiative doesn't mean juveniles will be hauled into federal court and prosecuted, Dugas said.
"We will prosecute adults who put guns into the hands of juveniles," Dugas said.
http://www.theadvocate.com/stories/082102/new_guns001.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878