brokeninoz
05-16-2005, 06:05 PM
Bill Would Make Gang Violence Federal Crime
KAKE News
May 15 - Federal lawmakers are taking new steps to crackdown on gangs. A bill supported by the House aims to make any kind of gang violence a federal crime. If it passes some teenage suspects could face the death penalty.
document.write('');Gang violence was a real concern at this year's River Festival. Rumors were flying for months that gang gunfire would break out during the festival's last weekend. Those rumors never materialized.
Wichita Police Deputy Chief Tom Stolz says there was some gang presence this year, but it didn't cause much trouble. That's partly because of the massive police presence. About 70 cops patrolled downtown Wichita's streets Saturday night.
As of April, Wichita Police had arrested about 80 gang members and seized 41 weapons. Now federal lawmakers say they are also trying to crackdown on gang violence. On Wednesday, House Republicans pushed through gang violence legislation that would make it a federal offense. It would also let 16 and 17-year-old gang members be tried as adults and be eligible for the death penalty.
A number of local lawmakers and lawyers are shocked by the vote, fearing it would lead to unfair bias in the court system when it comes to jury trials over gang related crimes. Wichita defense attorney Warner Eisenbise says it would be hard to prove who is a gang member and who is not. He worries some people may be found guilty by association.
It's now up to senators to decide how to fix the growing gang problem. With a Republican Senate and a Republican president, many believe a federal gang law will likely pass.
KAKE News
May 15 - Federal lawmakers are taking new steps to crackdown on gangs. A bill supported by the House aims to make any kind of gang violence a federal crime. If it passes some teenage suspects could face the death penalty.
document.write('');Gang violence was a real concern at this year's River Festival. Rumors were flying for months that gang gunfire would break out during the festival's last weekend. Those rumors never materialized.
Wichita Police Deputy Chief Tom Stolz says there was some gang presence this year, but it didn't cause much trouble. That's partly because of the massive police presence. About 70 cops patrolled downtown Wichita's streets Saturday night.
As of April, Wichita Police had arrested about 80 gang members and seized 41 weapons. Now federal lawmakers say they are also trying to crackdown on gang violence. On Wednesday, House Republicans pushed through gang violence legislation that would make it a federal offense. It would also let 16 and 17-year-old gang members be tried as adults and be eligible for the death penalty.
A number of local lawmakers and lawyers are shocked by the vote, fearing it would lead to unfair bias in the court system when it comes to jury trials over gang related crimes. Wichita defense attorney Warner Eisenbise says it would be hard to prove who is a gang member and who is not. He worries some people may be found guilty by association.
It's now up to senators to decide how to fix the growing gang problem. With a Republican Senate and a Republican president, many believe a federal gang law will likely pass.