http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/ Pennsylvania currently has no specific laws targeting gangs or gang members. HB326 was recently introduced and if passed would provide for the offenses of criminal gang activity and criminal gang solicitation and recruitment. The establishment of these statutes will allow police officers’ and the communities they serve to deal more effectively with this ever growing problem in several ways. 1st., and foremost, it will send the message to those involved in gangs that it is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated any longer. 2. Provide for a definition of what constitutes a gang; as well as establishing specific criteria required for identifying a person as a gang member. And in so doing, will establish a standard for all law enforcement throughout Pennsylvania; so that a gang and gang member in Erie, will be the same as a gang and gang member in Harrisburg. 3. All crimes have an identifying number (Uniform Crime Report) associated with them. Since there are no specific statutes dealing with gang crimes in Pennsylvania, there is no way to track the crimes that gangs and gang members commit (e.g. a person shot by a gang member is reported as an aggravated assault). An identifying gang crime report number would provide vital information to police and communities as to an increase or decrease in gang crimes; thereby allowing for an objective evaluation of enforcement, suppression and prevention efforts against them. 4. A recruitment/solicitation section would provide some measure of protection (and prevention) to those kids being approached, threatened or coerced into joining a gang. As well as those individuals that may want out of a gang, but fear retaliation and physical injury as a result. PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU ARE A PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENT IN FAVOR OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN MAKING THOSE INVOLVED IN GANG CRIMES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. [NOTE: If you intend to sign this petition you will receive a verification of email sent to the address you provided. Please take the time for this extra step; as it will help validate this petition and keep it clean of any spam] Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:0:38 CST en-us 3 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3881262 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3853017 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST they all need to disappear http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3841618 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3831183 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Allentown needs this! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3813558 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this bill and would like a copy sent to me. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3782409 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3780807 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3756611 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3754659 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3711602 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST i agree also communiation between poice stations and graffiti logs i dont live there but i support your efforts http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3696811 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3693615 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Where you have strong gang activity, you will often have cop/elected official who is on the take or has been compromised.If your sincere in this add a clause relative to this with TEETH> http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3508978 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3468023 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Godspeed Bill http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3454474 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3425603 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3241628 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3224182 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3220684 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pahb326/#sig3220594 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST