News Jan 27, 2011 at 4:00 am

Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna's Gang Bill Is Bad Policy—but Great Politics

Comments

1
Here is a link to the Oakland cause to stop the injunctions: http://stoptheinjunction.wordpress.com/ and a vimeo video: http://vimeo.com/15634248
2
I this this is a great bill and dose provide some much needed tools to help fight and stop gang violence. These people don't need "help" they know what they are doing and they know it is illegal and no amount of outreach telling them so is going to change that, what they need is to be thrown in prison where they can think about their crimes, and be keep off the streets where they pose a very really danger. I think that they should go even further make gang activity a three strikes and your out offence too, as it only escalates the longer it is allowed to go on, make these gang members chose between their evil ways and life in prison, and you make even joining a gang that much less attractive to the deviants that think about it.
3
Again, as no one seems to be willing to bring this up (not even in this article) -- how exactly do these provisions weigh against the United States Constitution and little things like Freedom of Speech and Assembly? Because on the surface, they don't.
4
Seems like a good bill, you don't think it will be popular in the suburbs Eli?

Still his health care reform fight is not going to be good for him.
5
@2, Prisons are an absolutely stellar place for gangs to form and recruit--indeed, prison-based gangs are some of the most powerful forces in organized crime right now. Prison sentences also tend to increase recidivism, as a criminal record severely limits non-crime options in ex-con's lives. "The deviants that think about it" are overwhelmingly kids with a long history of being violently abused, who go on to abuse others so they have some feeling of control and power in their sad, terrible lives.

What you suggest is to keep shoveling on more and more fuel to keep this cycle going.
7
@3 I'd be surprised if McKenna's law was obviously unconstitutional or in any way lent itself to legal challenge; the people writing the law aren't stupid. But that doesn't make it right, or even good policy.
8
@3 - I don't know the details of the proposed law, but just going off what I read in the article, the obvious line of federal constitutional attack is under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment: Because an injunction against being in a certain place or hanging around certain people impinges the fundamental liberty interests implicit in freedom of association (1st Amendment) and travel (14th Amendment), it cannot issue without ensuring that fair and adequate procedures are in place in the adjudicatory process. These would certainly include the right to advance notice and a hearing before a neutral arbitrator (which the law would appear to provide), but may also require a right to counsel.
9
This is a typical right wing proposal that will cost us all a lot of money. If the bill passes, we will spend a lot of money defending it in court. If it becomes law (after the court challenges) it will do little to reduce gang problems, while costing us plenty. Like law and order provisions (three strikes, etc.) it will be somewhat effective, but will not be as effective, for the money, as social programs. Studies have shown that, but Republicans don't want to look at the studies, they just want to play politics with our money.
10
Rob McKKKennazi is a right-wing nutjob;he should be voted out of office(or fired for abuse of power).
11
I think the ACLU is backing crime. What about the victims of these gangs. Don't they have rights? It claims we have to stop profiling, but it seems that most of the names I read in the paper are Hispanic surnames. Is that profiling? I honestly wish there were people around with common sense to see that the Hispanic community is throwing up road blocks instead of joining this country and backing our laws. They are supporting their own kids and gangs by making waves about profiling. Stop your kids from joining gangs and support America. Or watch them go to jail. Support and back American law or go to another country whose laws you can support.
12
The biggest gangs in the USA are racist mofos who run treasonational Korporations;impoliticians who are taking money from them,and the Spentagon!Far,far more people are killed by those goons than some Black or Meztiso form the hood or barrio!Pfft!
13
@11: Why don't we just lock everyone up? Then there would be no victims of gangs, or any other crimes. (Just victims of law, but hey, American Laws -- love them or leave them, right?)

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