Those people saved by "Project Exile" could have been the mother, brother or loved one of anyone. And the despair and injustice felt by the loved ones of those who died would have been immeasurable, and for the most part, incomprehensible.

This is why it is important and necessary that senators, such as Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., have supported stepping up the impact of this program across the state, especially in Philadelphia. Because of it, any felon caught with or trying to buy a gun would receive a five-year mandatory prison sentence.

Officials along with the National Rifle Association cannot only concentrate on Philadelphia, as seen last month when a Penn State student opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon outside Nittany Crossing Apartments, 601 Vairo Blvd. However, there are still larger issues to be addressed. No citizen needs access to automatic weapons -- their only purpose is to kill someone. Such weapons of mass destruction are not used for protection or for hunting.

Firearms, especially those in the hands of violent criminals, do need to be restricted, and this program is taking a step in the right direction by enforcing existing laws by keeping the weapons out of felons' hands.

However, the government and the NRA need to look at the greater problem of murder and destruction caused by people who have not yet been arrested. Both must realize the simple enforcement of laws is always a deterrent to murder.

An ex-Philadelphia police officer has already said because of large case loads, numbers of crimes and prison overcrowding in the City of Brotherly Love, courts cannot prosecute every person and therefore some felons still have access to guns, including assault weapons.