Despite all the ranting from the left about the need for more gun laws, the facts are the government does not do a very good job of using existing state or federal laws against criminals. In fact, in the majority of cases the first offense dropped from the list of charges are firearms violations. Criminals generally don't fear carrying or using a gun during the commission of a crime. The justice system doesn't prosecute those crimes anyway. Project Exile changed that for the criminals in Richmond.
Stiff penalties do two things.
First, it creates a deterrent for those criminals who are mentally equipped to reason the consequences of their actions. Second, for those who are unable to reason, they end up in prison and off the streets. The results of either scenario are a big reduction in violent crime rates. A reasonably prudent citizen would properly ascertain that if it worked in Richmond, it may indeed work elsewhere. No doubt because it is endorsed by the National Rifle Association.