National Rifle Association President David Keene is backing reforms suggested by the Oregon Public Safety Commission to avert expected prison growth and use some of the savings to support law enforcement and other crime-fighting programs. Writing in the Salem Statesman Journal, Keene supports proposals to ease some mandatory minimum sentences in the state. Judges would regain discretion in sentencing appropriate offenders to shorter prison terms or less expensive, more intensive community supervision, Keene says. He writes that conservatives should lead efforts to “restore some checks and balances between prosecutors and the courts, allow prison resources to be focused on serious violent offenders and let taxpayers know that their public safety dollars are being spent more wisely.” Projected prison population growth involving mainly nonviolent offenders is expected to cost taxpayers $600 million, he said.