The recent shootings of two people in broad daylight in the heart of the city's business district reminds us that gun violence can occur anywhere.

All too often, we read or hear of the horrors of mass shootings and the invariable individual, interviewed afterward, who predictably states: "This is the type of thing that happens only in other places, not here."

Invariably, the gunman always seems to be "a good guy, kind of quiet, keeps to himself, but not someone you'd expect to do something like this." Of course not.

Well, the shootings occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, in Norwich's Franklin Square. Two people were wounded seriously enough to require treatment at The William W. Backus Hospital. Both were discharged later in the day.

The response by local and state police was swift and massive, and a short time later, 18-year-old Jamel Pires of 46 North Cliff St. was in custody, charged with criminal attempt at murder, first degree assault, first degree reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a pistol without a permit, and criminal use of a firearm. Hats off to law enforcement for their quick and coordinated response that day, one that had the alleged gunman in custody shortly after the shootings.

The response among some after a high-profile shooting is to call for tougher gun laws that would take longer and make it more difficult to obtain guns, particularly those with large bullet capacities that have automatic or semi-automatic capabilities.

Let me state first of all that I don't own a gun, never have and probably never will. While some may disagree, I've always been skeptical, though, of tougher gun laws as an effective means of reducing gun-related crimes. One needs to look no further than the carnage taking place in cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York - which have some of the most stringent gun laws in the country - to know that those laws have done little or nothing to reduce gun-related violence. In fact, the incidence of violent crime is up markedly in virtually all large urban areas where those strict gun laws are in place.

Prosecutors in those cities - and I use the term "prosecutor" very loosely - are reluctant for some reason to crack down on criminal behavior, opting instead to seek alternatives to incarceration for even the most heinous crimes. Based on the escalating bloodshed in those and other urban areas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that those approaches are flat-out ineffective. In fact, they have the opposite effect because they actually condone the violence instead of deterring it. How many times have we heard of violent crimes committed by someone who's out on parole or has made bail while awaiting trial on another charge?

Thankfully, New London County has had a long line of tough, responsive prosecutors, including current State's Attorney Paul Narducci, and his predecessors Michael Regan, Kevin Kane (who would later go on to become Connecticut's Chief State's Attorney) and C. Robert Satti, the latter affectionately known as "The Bulldog." They were supported years ago during my time as The Day's police reporter by great investigative inspectors such as Tom Viens, formerly of the Waterford Police Department, Jack Edwards of the Groton City PD and Ned Pickett of the Connecticut State Police.

Perhaps if the big city prosecutors enforced laws that are already on the books and sought lengthy prison terms from judges for serious and/or repeat offenses, it would serve as a deterrent. If there's going to be legislation designed to curb gun use, how about aiming it (no pun intended) at those who commit gun crimes. How about doubling prison sentences for crimes in which a firearm is used? If someone is sentenced to 10 years for robbing a store, make the sentence 20 years if the criminal uses a gun in the robbery. And the prison sentences should be served consecutively, not concurrently.

You see, even outlawing guns - which is prohibited by the Second Amendment of the Constitution - wouldn't work. Criminals demonstrate to us every day that they don't care about laws and will break whatever ones they want to achieve their wayward means - whether it's carjacking, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, drug dealing or any other felony. If guns were outlawed, they'd still find ways to get their hands on them and would have an even greater advantage in commission of crimes, knowing their victims wouldn't be armed. Such a ban seems counterintuitive, but there are many who believe passionately that outlawing guns is the answer. Clearly, well-intentioned people on both sides of the issue are passionate about their beliefs and finding middle ground on even the simplest gun-control measures is nearly impossible.

Ever though it occurred around midday in Franklin Square, the shooting doesn't mean Norwich, or even down-city Norwich, is dangerous. On the contrary, from my own personal observation having lived in and visited the city, the Norwich Police Department has always been highly visible and responsive within the city's borders. Also, in most cases here and in other cities, the shootings are isolated and the victims usually on the wrong side of some sort of dispute instead of being random.

Businesses and other institutions throughout the city seem to have done what they're supposed to when a shooting suspect is at large - keeping employees and patrons inside while institutions from the nearby New London County Superior Court to Norwich Free Academy went on lockdown when notified of the shootings.

Yes, the shootings made headlines in the local newspapers and other media and were certainly a topic of conversation around most workplace water coolers the next day. Here's hoping, though, that they won't deter people from patronizing and working at restaurants, banks, retailers, offices and other down-city businesses. Fortunately, Norwich people are tough, proud and determined, and aren't likely to let this apparently isolated incident scare them off.

Bill Stanley, a former vice president at L+M Hospital, grew up in Norwich.