Maryland Shooter: Why was someone with 15 felony convictions still walking among us?

[Purveyor]

Who is Radee Labeeb Prince? Harford County workplace shooting suspect has extensive criminal history

HARFORD COUNTY, Md. - The man investigators say is responsible for shooting five of his co-workers at a Maryland business park, killing three of them, on Wednesday has a long criminal history.

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Wilmington police say Prince has been arrested 42 times in Delaware, which include several arrests for violating probation. Prince has 15 felony convictions and four misdemeanor convictions, Chief Tracy says.

According to online court records, Prince lived in Elkton -- about 35 miles from the shooting scene -- as recently as last month. He faced several gun charges in March 2015 in Cecil County, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a handgun in vehicle. However, the charges were dropped about three months later.

more...

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/who-is-radee-labeeb-prince

[SaschaHM]

1. Because none of those felonies warranted lifetime imprisonment?

Can't really say much without knowing the exact nature of the felonies that he was convicted of, but the sheer number isn't saying much w/ the amount of felony charges that can be tacked on to a single crime based on circumstances.

That being said, everything he was convicted for should/would have showed up on a simple background/criminal check so his employers are going to have a lot of explaining to do if any of those felonies were violent.

Edit: It's also compounded by the fact that none of his 3rd+ felonies seem to rise to the level of seriousness to trigger Maryland's three strikes law.

[Not Ruth]

3. Why would the employers have a lot of explaining to do?

It is a good thing to give people a second chance. Although it did not work out in this case, it may work out with the next person.

[cwydro]

5. 15 felonies??!!

I’m not thinking that guy deserved a second chance.

[Orrex]

14. Yeah--kind of sounds like the guy already got 14 second chances

[SaschaHM]

7. It's not a good look PR-wise if the guy that just gunned down 5 people has a violent, criminal past

and a company overlooked it.

Criminal checks shouldn't be a barrier of entry, but they should also inform the decision in specific ways. You just can't ignore a conviction under the guise of "a second chance" if it relates in some way to the current position the applicant is applying for.

[Not Ruth]

8. If you do not not offer guys with 15 felonies 2nd, and 3rd chances, you are calling them worthless

And leaving them very few options for rehabilitation.

[SaschaHM]

9. And if you don't take a criminal history into account, you are endangering your employees/customers

No one is saying to turn felons away at the door. You do take into account the specific crimes however. If you have a felony for child molestation, you shouldn't be hired in a position where you have personal interactions with children and the onus is on employers to prevent scenarios like that from happening. You don't put someone with a history of fraud in a position where they oversee the personal data of your customers. Your conviction shouldn't prevent employment, but it has to inform it.

[Orrex]

15. As noted upthread...

The guy with 15 felonies already had 14 second chances.

Where do you draw the line? How many second chances must we give him before employers are allowed say "we are not comfortable hiring this parole-violating multiple felon?"

[Not Ruth]

2. Unfortunately, incidents like this make it harder for felons to find employment

It is a vicious circle

[Sancho]

4. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

[sarisataka]

6. None of those matter

If the gun laws are not going to be enforced:

He faced several gun charges in March 2015 in Cecil County, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a handgun in vehicle. However, the charges were dropped about three months later.

[Bonx]

10. If the charges were dropped, that means he was innocent.

[B2G]

11. Not necessarily. nt

[mythology]

12. Or the DA thought the case wouldn't win

Or would cost more than it was worth to prosecute, or there was an issue with the police (illegal search or the like), or any number of reasons.

[sarisataka]

13. If the charges were dropped

It means the charges were dropped. Nothing more

There are many reasons charges may be dropped, most having nothing to do with guilt/innocence.