When one of your own dies in the line of duty, I’d imagine that it’s a hell of a good time to take a step back and reflect. However, one also needs to mourn. While the politics of the situation will undoubtedly rear its head, the time for that is usually a ways down the road. After all, we on the pro-gun side have been told more than once that we’re out of line for talking politics in the wake of something tragic.

Of course, that’s usually a one-way street.

When an officer is shot and killed while on the job, there is a point where we probably should talk about what happened. However, when the chief immediately begins by calling for gun control, you can’t help but wonder if he’s putting politics above all else.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo spoke at the procession, urging lawmakers to act upon the Violence Against Women Act.

“Choose sides. It is right and wrong and it is not that complicated,” Acevedo demanded.

He argues that shootings like that of Sgt. Brewster can be avoided if lawmakers make it so those convicted and allowed civil redress in domestic violence cases prosecutors chose to leave un-prosecuted are legally unable to obtain a gun.

“The NRA doesn’t like the fact that we want to take firearms out of the hands of boyfriends that abuse their girlfriends,” Acevedo said. “And who killed our sergeant? A boyfriend abusing his girlfriend. So you’re either here for women, and children, and our daughters, and our sisters and our aunts, or you’re here for the NRA.”

He just lost one of his men, so his immediate thought is to blame the NRA for opposing a piece of legislation?

Now, arguably, the legislation in question, at least superficially, may actually have applied in this case. However, the real problem is that the killer, Arturo Solis, had a pretty extensive criminal history.

Solis has a lengthy criminal history including a charge of assault causing bodily injury.

Below are his previous charges:

• 1/8/17- Burglary of vehicle– plead guilty- sentenced to 150 days in Harris County Jail
• 03/01/16- Evading arrest/detention– plead guilty- sentenced to 30 days in Harris County Jail
• 9/14/16- Harassment– guilty- sentenced 60 days in Brazoria Co Jail
• 8/11/15- Assault family member– plead guilty- sentenced to 70 days in Harris County Jail
• 11/10/14- Criminal mischief– guilty- sentenced to 20 Days Brazoria Co Jail

The actual problem is that none of those crimes are sufficient for a felony conviction. They’re simply not, and that might be a better place for Acevedo’s ire. Solis pleaded guilty in every one of these cases. How many of his original charges were felonies that he was allowed to plead down to misdemeanors?

You see, at some point, this series of crimes should have warned someone that Solis was a problem. They should have stepped in and demanded tougher charges or tougher sentencing. There are things that can be done at the state level that would easily have addressed this situation without infringing on the rights of ordinary Americans, but calling for those changes wouldn’t allow Acevedo to grandstand for gun control.