Houses Passes Anti-Gang Measure

Rep. Paul Wesselhöft said he applauds his fellow House member for passing his legislation to crack down on gang activity.

House Bill 2080, by Wesselhöft, would make committing a crime as a member of an organized gang in attempts to benefit that gang a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to 90 days, or by a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

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Wesselhoft Addresses Gang Membership

Rep. Paul Wesselhoft has filed a bill that seeks to crack down on gang members.

“Organized gangs are involved in knifings, shootings, robberies, home invasions, car thefts, drug deals gone bad and bloody street killings and these gangs threaten our very peace,” said Wesselhöft, R-Moore. “It is past time to outlaw gangs; I am going to do it.”

House Bill 2080, by Wesselhöft, will make being a member of an organized gang that has demonstrated a pattern of delinquent or criminal activity a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to 90 days, or by a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

The legislation defines “gang member” and “organized gangs” and identifies the names of existing gangs that have demonstrated a pattern of criminal activity.

Currently, there are more than 5,000 gang members in Oklahoma. On May 31, 2008 six Oklahoma teens were shot in random drive-by shootings by gang members.
In 1999, there were some 50 drive-by shootings. In 2005, drive-by shootings rose to 260.

“Hardly a week passes without the media reporting a drive-by shooting,” Wesselhöft said.

The Moore lawmaker said officials need to start cracking down on gangs before Oklahoma’s youth are recruited and before the problem escalates beyond control.

HB 2080 would penalize a participant or member of a street gang who is 18 years of age or older and is aware that juveniles are members of his or her gang or are participants in the gang. Those convicted would face up to 180 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.

“We are also dealing with an increase in ‘baby gangsters’ in Oklahoma who are eight years of age and spreading graffiti to mark gang territory. At age 13, these kids can become full gang members,” said Wesselhöft. “Many of the gangs are also involved in racial rivalries that could escalate into race wars. Oklahoma must outlaw organized gangs and prevent them from intimidating citizens, killing each other and killing innocent bystanders.”

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Gang Intervention Task Force Bill Advances

Legislation creating a statewide gang task force has passed out of a House subcommittee. House Bill 1995, by Rep. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, would create the Oklahoma Statewide Gang Intervention Task Force to develop strategies for reducing gang activity and youth violence through prevention and intervention programs.

"Gang violence is reaching epidemic levels in Oklahoma City," said Pittman. "In my district, it's cost the lives of four young people in just two months. The state needs to become much more aggressive and intervene before more lives are lost."

Pittman said that as gang activity has increased, the Legislature has actually reduced funding for anti-gang programs from $1.4 million in FY 2003 to $1.19 million today. "This is a sad statement when you consider that gang-involved youth are four times more likely to end up in prison than non-gang involved youth," Pittman said. "With limited funding the state of Oklahoma needs to coordinate and utilize these funds as efficiently as possible. That is what HB 1995 will do."

If the bill becomes law, the Task Force will attempt to determine how much state funding is needed for anti-gang programs and issue reform recommendations by February 1, 2008. The bill also requires the Office of Juvenile Affairs to utilize new funding appropriated for the Delinquency and Youth Gang Intervention and Prevention Act for the expansion of current gang intervention and prevention contracts and the creation of new gang contracts. The bill would grant the Statewide Steering Committee oversight of the contracts and require entities receiving gang contracts to create local steering committees that work with community leaders, neighborhood associations, service providers, local school officials, law enforcement and other stakeholders to help facilitate the implementation of the program.

Pittman's bill passed out of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee and now proceeds to the full House Judiciary & Public Safety Committee.

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