Petition to Stop Stacking 924(c)'s

Background:

On October 31, 2011 the United States Sentencing Commission issued a comprehensive report assessing the compatibility of mandatory minimum penalties with the current advisory guideline system. Therein they recommended that mandatory minimum penalties in general should (1) not be excessively severe, (2) be narrowly tailored to apply onto those offenders who warrant such punishment, and (3) be applied consistently. The commission then went on to specifically identify the federal firearm statute, 18 U.S.C. 924(c), as a source of excessive penalties and sentencing disparities which clearly need to be addressed by Congress.

The findings and recommendations of the Sentencing Commission were sent to each member of Congress and can be viewed online at USSC.gov. Historically members of Congress have been slow to respond to such recommendations except when there was decisive support from the voters. Fortunately, contacting your representatives and expressing your support for federal sentencing reform is easier now than ever before.

Call to Action:

This is your opportunity to help create legislation that could remedy a great injustice and positively impact thousands of lives. Our online petition to "Stop Stacking 924(c)'s" is a quick and effective way for you to voice your opposition to excessively severe mandatory minimum sentencing policies. Simply read through the petition below and then "sign-in" at the bottom if you support the recommendations made by the United States Sentencing Commission. Once you've finished please make sure that you pass this petition along to all of your family members, friends and colleagues so that their voices may also be heard by Congress.

Petition to "Stop Stacking 924(c)'s"

I unequivocally concur with the United States Sentencing Commission's recommendation to amend (double SS's here)18 U.S.C. 924(c) and strongly urge you, my elected representative in Congress, to introduce responsive legislation without any further delay. Over two years ago Chief Judge Julie E. Carnes stated on behalf of the Judicial Conference of the United States that the stacking of penalties under section 924(c) were among the "most egregious mandatory minimum provisions that produce the unfairest, harshest, and most irrational results." predating Chief Judge Carnes statement by an additional two years was formed federal Judge Paul G. Cassell's statement, also on behalf of the Judicial Conference of the United States, similarly criticizing the lengthy sentences produced by stacking section 924(c) penalties. Obviously this illogical practice has already been permitted to carry on for far too long. Testimony from judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys alike has repeatedly identified the stacking penalties of section 924(c) as frequently producing unjustly severe sentences. Now is the time to respond and here is the remedy.

1. Congress should eliminate the "stacking" requirement and amend 18 U.S.C. 924(c) to give the sentencing court discretion to impose sentences for multiple violations of section 924(c) concurrently with each other.
2. Congress should consider amending 18 U.S.C. 924(c) so that the enhanced mandatory minimum penalties for a "second or subsequent" offense apply only to prior convictions and should consider amending the penalties for such offense to lesser terms.

I expect that these recommendations and my concerns will be addressed in a timely manner. There are too many lives at stake and thousands of families that have already suffered for far too long. Please help bring an end to this injustice without any further delay.

Respectfully,