Enough is enough. The violence in Natchez must end. Despite populist thoughts to the contrary, the solution has little to do with bolstering law enforcement or average citizens becoming armed to the teeth.

While both are not bad things, neither would not stop the kind of senseless violence our community has experienced far too much of lately.

The solution is in our justice system.

In the latest case of violence, a man was murdered Saturday night in the Natchez Mall parking lot. Gunfire rang out into the night and bullets went flying — endangering who knows how many innocent bystanders.

Although the police are still working the case, the circumstances indicate this was no crime of passion or a case of a deranged madman — either of which circumstance could, at least in some way, help us all under the “why” behind such violence. Not in this case, it’s just idiots shooting at one another.

Apparently, this shooting was some sort of retaliation for a previous shooting incident.

This was the work of a thug who sought to take the law in his own hands and take another human being’s life.

Stupid people exist in every culture, but our country seems to be the world leaders in slapping these people on the wrists and telling them “don’t do that again.”

We need to start throwing the book at these people and locking them up for a long time.

Prosecutors who are more apt to offer plea bargains and judges who constantly give light sentences and second chances will only perpetuate the problem, not fix it.

Getting serious about crime starts in the courtroom.