Georgia lawmakers are sending a message to street gang criminals. The Georgia House of Representatives voted 106-60 Wednesday to send HB 874 to the Senate, which would impose a minimum five year sentence on prisoners who use cell phones to conduct gang activity.
Bill sponsor, Rep. Bert Reeves (R-Marietta) , said he wants to give Georgia prosecutors more tools in their fight against illegal street gang activity.
“We are dealing with an epidemic in Georgia,” said Reeves. “Street gang violence continues to grow in this state. We have to find a way to fight it.”
Reeves is joined by a powerful group of Republican Representatives in sponsoring HB 874. Co-sponsors are Rep. Rich Golick, Rep. Chuck Efstration, Rep. Brian Strickland, Rep. Matt Ramsey and Rep. Earl Ehrhart.
“We have story after story of orders being made by gang leaders from inside the prison walls,” said Reeves, during a recent committee hearing. “We have hits on prosecutors being ordered, armed robberies being planned, and threats on witnesses. We have a specific problems here that we are addressing, and we are hoping for tough language to fight this.”
“The problem has gotten out of control,” he said.
As presented, the bill would also set a mandatory minimum for anyone convicted of being a leader or “management” of a gang.
Many Democrats voted against the bill, stating their opposition to mandatory minimum sentences.
Officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation predict there are about 20,000 gang members in metro Atlanta. In fact, as early as 2003, federal reports recognized growing concern in Georgia over the increased presence of older and more experienced gang members from Chicago and Los Angeles. And in the 2003 Georgia Drug Threat Assessment, it was reported that Georgia has one of the largest populations of the LA born street gang MS 13 — with more than six cliques.
