Milwaukee sheriff calls gun control plan meaningless
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke says President Obama's proposals for curbing gun violence are meaningless and called them an emotional reaction to the Connecticut shootings.
He says judges and district attorneys need to enforce the current laws instead of creating new ones. He says too often criminals get "watered down" sentences that don't deter future crimes.
He says he'd like to see the U.S. Attorney's office prosecute all gun crimes so criminals get stiffer sentences.
Some sheriffs around the country said they wouldn't enforce new gun laws. But Clarke says he swore to uphold the law and he will even if he doesn't agree with it.
The president announced Wednesday a $500 million package of executive actions and legislative proposals, including a call to ban military-style assault weapons.