Rob Portman: “Yesterday, I introduced, together with my colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit], legislation to help law…”

“Yesterday, I introduced, together with my colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit], legislation to help law enforcement officers combat rampant gang violence that is threatening our communities all across America. Our legislation clarifies that membership in a gang known for violent crime shall be a sufficient basis for a police officer to stop and frisk for a weapon. Gang violence is not only a problem plaguing our major cities; it is starting to creep into smaller communities. The New York Times today described on its front page a chilling gang murder in Davenport, IA. Just days ago in my own congressional district, a carload of young men of one gang came into the small city of Norwood, OH, assaulted a group of teenagers of another gang and ended up shooting to death a 20-year-old. We have to do all we can to stem the epidemic of gang violence in America. As noted criminologist James Q. Wilson recently stated, Our goal should be to reduce the number of people who carry guns unlawfully, especially * * * on streets * * * where the mere presence of a gun can increase the hazards we all face. The most effective way * * * is to encourage[e] the police to make street frisks. Captain Tom Williams, assistant chief of the Norwood police, said, Your stop and frisk legislation will help make pat downs of gang members, routine. The risks involved in performing the pat downs are few and the costs of not doing so are high.”