"Of course two persons convicted of a identical offense (non Capital) could or should receive different sentence's.
Whereas a Police Officer with a impeccable Record of Service, never a hint of scandal, a solid member of the Community and up to this point, a Law Biding Citizen. Who in this case Unlawfully discharged a firearm into a wall of her residence. GUILTY AS CHARGED
Now John Doe of no fixed address and unemployed, with priors of Drunk & Disorderly, Breaking and Entering, and 3 years for Assault. Who did Unlawfully discharge a firearm into the air at the Hot Spot Cafe. GUILTY AS CHARGED."
However, me, as a law abiding citizen with a (mostly) clean record can still expect a heftier sentence, if I were to decide to shoot off any firearm in my own home. The SERT guys would be knocking my door down and a hard takedown would be in my future.