Gun program to 'exile' felons

By CHERYL FRANKENFIELD
Collegian Staff Writer

Last week, state senators and other officials joined forces with the National Rifle Association to help decrease the number of gun crimes through increased enforcement of existing laws.

U.S. Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and others are seeking better enforcement of gun-related laws. Even though these crimes occur throughout the state -- as was seen last weekend at Nittany Crossing Apartments, 601 Vairo Blvd., when a Penn State student opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle -- the group is focusing its attention on the Philadelphia area.

Project Exile is an aggressive effort to remove violent armed felons from the streets. The project started in Richmond, Va., and within one year, the gun-murder rate fell 65 percent, according to the NRA's World Wide Web site (www.nra.org). The project calls for every felon caught with or trying to purchase a gun to receive a five-year federal prison sentence.

Sean Griffin, adviser to the Penn State Justice Association and an ex-Philadelphia police officer, said federal courts are much quicker at seeing cases but are very selective about the crimes prosecuted.

In Philadelphia, an individual must commit a heinous crime to be sentenced to jail because of overcrowding in local prisons, he said.

"The criminal justice system is so overwhelmed," Griffin said. "The local system just couldn't handle it."

For example, Griffin said, if a person previously convicted of a felony was found carrying a gun, he probably would not be given jail time because of limited prison space in cities.

"Through Project Exile, our local law enforcement officials can more effectively fight crime and keep our streets safe," Santorum said in a press release.

"Project Exile assures that every criminal who uses a gun in a crime will forfeit his or her right to be part of our community, will face immediate federal prosecution and will be 'exiled' to federal prison for a minimum of five years," he added.

The success rate with Project Exile is astounding, said Chris Manthos, NRA grassroots division coordinator.

The program originated when prosecutors were looking for a better way to enforce gun laws and the NRA stepped in to give its support, Manthos said.

The NRA has always supported efforts that would better enforce federal laws, Manthos said.

Crimes committed in cities differ in volume than local crimes, but when several bullets were fired in front of Nittany Crossing last weekend, it showed gun-related crime occurs everywhere.

Certainly, some gun crimes occur in State College, but not to the extent they do in Philadelphia, said Sgt. John Wilson of the State College Police Department.

Wilson said generally, state and federal laws concerning guns are similar.

Project Exile, however, will enable officers to keep repeat offenders from committing crimes through the heightened enforcement of federal law.