http://capwiz.com/famm/callalert/index.tt?alertid=7545606

Urgent! More federal mandatory minimum sentences coming, "gang bill" must be defeated!

Sometime during the week of May 9th, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 1279, an extremely harsh and unnecessary gang bill that includes many new and increased federal mandatory minimum sentences.

Don't be daunted by the fact that this is a "gang" bill. This bill broadens the definition of gangs and metes out even harsher punishments for offenses that already have very long sentences. Mandatory minimum sentences are bad regardless of the crime because they prevent judges from making distinctions between defendants and sentencing them according to their culpability. Instead, mandatory minimums impose one-size-fits-all sentencing, which guarantees injustices.

THE ISSUE
H.R. 1279, the "Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005," includes many new and increased mandatory minimum sentences. House members need to hear from their constituents that this bill is full of mandatory minimum sentences that will not help deter youth involvement in gangs; it will cost an estimated $7 billion dollars over the next 10 years; and it is an unnecessary federal intrusion into matters traditionally handled by the states.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH H.R. 1279?
For a complete analysis of the bill, go to the FAMM website www.famm.org. The short list of grievances we have with the bill is that it:

- Adds many new mandatory minimum penalties to the criminal street gangs statute;
- Broadens the definition of a street gang, and changes the definition of crime of violence to include drug trafficking crimes that involve no violence whatsoever;
- Increases from five to seven years the mandatory consecutive sentence for carrying or possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense or violent felony;
- Increases the mandatory penalty for discharging a firearm from ten to 15 years, and
- Makes defendants convicted of "conspiracy" to commit drug trafficking or crimes of violence eligible for the mandatory consecutive firearm penalties if a firearm is involved, even if the defendant did not possess or use the firearm.
*************************************************

"There are hundreds behind bars on misdemeanor drug charges..but it costs "$$ Billions" to prosecute these cases"
...is it worth it?!"

"SAY NO TO DRUGS"..."SAY NO TO GANGS"
[Laura Bush you ain't no Nancy Reagan]