It started off sounding good, then... (en francais)

When I first saw this article and began reading I thought, it's about time. Ten years sounds appropriate for an illegal gun dealer in today's environment.

Gunrunner curses judge
`Remorseful,' then enraged after learning of his 10-year term
'Rot in hell,' he shouts at judge, for `this ridiculous sentence'
Feb. 11, 2006. 01:00 AM
DALE BRAZAO AND JOHN DUNCANSON
STAFF REPORTERS

As long as there was hope, Jeffrey Tuck was willing to mouth the words of contrition and remorse.

He was sorry, he told Justice Ramez Khawly, for all the pain he had caused his family, friends and especially the mother of his 2 1/2-year-old daughter.

The clean-cut, slightly built 24-year-old, who had pleaded guilty to 29 charges of gun running, drug trafficking and breaking his bail conditions, added: "I'd like to apologize for the crimes I've committed."

After listening to the apology yesterday, Khawly whacked him with a 10-year prison term. That was when Tuck lost his cool. The polite and demure Dr. Jekyll suddenly turned into a raging, foul-mouthed Mr. Hyde.

"I don't give a f---. Go to hell, you piece of s---," Tuck shouted at the judge from the prisoner's box. "This is crazy. What's your problem?"

But then I reached this point in the article:

Led away in handcuffs, an angry Tuck was returned to court just a few minutes later so Khawly could clarify that the actual sentence was only six years in prison after taking into account the time Tuck had spent in pre-trial custody.

Although they don't specify here, I think this is as a result of the 2 for 1 or sometimes 3 for 1 credit assigned for days spent in pre-trial custody. This is but one of many other facets of the gun violence problem that must be addressed. We can pass all the mandatory minimum legislation we wish, but unless they actually serve the time, what's the use?

I'm not sure if the statutory release is based on the full sentence or the actual time served. If based on time served, this prisoner could be released in four years, and that's not counting day and weekend passes.

Mandatory minimums make a great election promise but we must address other problems such as court backups and jail conditions. Justice infrastructure has suffered as much as any other over the last decade and time is well past to face up to that.

One other thing has always puzzled me. Without ammunition, a gun is basically an inefficient club (although still threatening). What efforts have been expended to choke off the supply of ammo? The only thing easier than getting an illegal gun is obtaining the ammo for it. If anyone has any links to studies related to this I would appreciate a link or two.

H/T Jack's Newswatch