Having a united database system to link the efforts of the Ingham County law agencies and prosecutors, the FBI and the U.S. attorney general makes for an efficient union.

Federal officials awarded the Ingham County prosecutors office $120,000 to begin Project Safe Neighborhoods. The project is a nationwide program geared to network new and existing programs to better target gun crimes and prosecute assailants.

The three-year grant for Ingham County will assist the program’s commencement in the area and was created with hopes to help law enforcers decrease the number of felons with gun violations.

The union of local and federal governments is a first in streamlining efforts between both levels of enforcement and should be recognized by all as a way to hinder repeated crimes and build safe neighborhoods.

The previous lack of coordination between law agencies helped past assailants get away nearly scot-free by slipping through cracks in the system. This program stands to fill in some of those cracks.

The more guns taken away from those who misuse them, the better it is for all community members. People can feel safer in their homes and schools and while studying in classrooms.

Everyone longs for the day when stories about children sleeping quietly in their beds killed by stray drive-by bullets are a part of history.

This program will become a positive force in building a community sense of pride.

Felons should be ready to change their ways for the better or suffer the consequences.

Through the efforts of the new program, criminals with gun violations stand to serve a jail sentence of four and a half years.

A five-year sentence is the maximum felony for weapons violations.

In the past, felons with weapons violations usually served sentences less that two and a half years because of sentencing guidelines according to the Ingham County Prosecutors office.

The chance to face longer sentences is a positive step in encouraging felons to stray away from repeated crimes and carrying guns.

The more guns taken out of the hands of criminals, the safer life can become for all.

Thanks to concealed-weapons legislation signed into law last year makes it easier for some Michigan residents who shouldn’t carry weapons to do so legally.

That’s a problem when people would rather concentrate their efforts on taking guns off the streets.

The prosecutors of Project Safe Neighborhoods have their work cut out for them. But their efforts to make our community streets safe for all to travel.