Political Quotes

“I rise against this H.R. 1279, the Gang Deterrence and Community Prosecution Act of 2005. I strongly believe in cooperation between Federal and State law enforcement to deter gang activities. However, this bill takes the wrong approach by imposing mandatory sentences, trying juveniles as adults and expanding the death sentence to new offenses. I, myself, can appreciate the destruction that gang violence can impose on a community. In Chicago alone, there are estimated to be 70,000 to 100,000 gang members--compared with about 13,000 Chicago police officers. Several ``super gangs'' dominate: the Gangster Disciples, the Black Disciples, the Vice Lords, the Black P Stones, the Mickey Cobras, the Latin Kings, the Spanish Cobras, the Maniac Latin Disciples, and the Satan Disciples. Each of these gangs controlled large amounts of territory and have wreaked havoc on the Chicago community. Nevertheless, prevention and intervention is the key in deterring juvenile crime and gang activities, not discriminatory mandatory sentencing or unfettered prosecutorial discretion. Study after study have shown that trying juveniles as adults does not reduce crime but increases crime, including violent crime. In addition, a better approach, as opposed to this ill-advised approach, would be to focus our energy on more programs for at risk youth such as Head Start, Job Corps and family focused intervention programs. Again, I rise against H.R.…”