Rep. Morelle writes to U.S. attorney general to address gun violence

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – Six out of every seven days in our city, someone is shot. And nearly 20 percent of the time they’re killed.

So Congressman Joe Morelle released a letter Friday. He wrote to the United States attorney general asking for help on gun violence.

News10NBC asked Morelle exactly what he wants the attorney general to do. His suggestion was to put more illegal gun cases in federal court.

“A federal judge and federal prosecutions has the right to consider how dangerous that person is to the community making judgments about bail,” Morelle said.

“I was talking to someone in law enforcement earlier this week who said there was an individual who was charged three different times with gun charges and out on the street each time,” the congressman said.

Judges in New York state court are not allowed to consider if a defendant is dangerous when they’re considering bail. Morelle is sponsoring a bill that, among other things, holds gun shops accountable for gun thefts.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter testified in front of Morelle’s committee this week.