Question on gun control

[ChoppinBroccoli]

14. States Can Pass "Penalty Enhancements"

Many States already have "gun specs" for crimes in which a gun is used. Here in Ohio, if you use a gun in the commission of a crime, a sentence of at least 3 mandatory years (meaning you must serve every day of the 3 years--it can't be reduced or forgiven, and you're not eligible for any kind of early release) will be added on to the sentence for the crime itself.

So I think the answer is yes. I don't think you could have a sentencing law that says you get the death penalty just for using an assault weapon (unless the crime you commit is murder or something similar). It would be a miscarriage of justice to get the death penalty for, say, BRANDISHING an assault weapon, or improperly carrying it in a motor vehicle, or using it in a minor stick-up, for example.

What I think is more likely is that use of an assault weapon could ENHANCE the sentence even further. For example, instead of 3 years on the gun spec, you would get, say, 10 years for an assault weapon spec. Something like that I could see.