Mandatory Sentencing for Firearm Offenses (various)

The General Assembly is also considered a variety of legislation aimed at firearms possession and use, including a number of bills imposing mandatory sentences. Mandatory sentences require judges, over their own judgment, to impose lengthy sentences upon individuals who could be better served with shorter or deferred sentences. These bills instead gave sentencing discretion to prosecutors, who choose whether to charge an individual with an offense that carries a mandatory sentence. All bills died in committee without receiving a vote.