The Gangbuster Bill, formally known as the "Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005", was a proposed piece of legislation in the U.S. Congress.

Description

Principally sponsored by Representative Randy Forbes, a Republican from Virginia, with a number of co-sponsors, the Gangbuster Bill would have allowed teenage gang members to be tried as adults and have increased the mandatory minimum sentence to ten years for some violent gang-related crimes. The bill passed the House of Representatives 279-144 with mostly Republican support. The bill was widely supported by a number of national law-enforcement organizations, such as the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Sheriffs' Association. The legislation failed to pass the Senate, in part due to opposition from some African-American and Hispanic-American organizations, such as the National Council of La Raza.

The proposed legislation pursued two principal goals:

  • Designate "High Intensity Gang Areas" and authorize funds to combat gang activity in those areas.
  • Define gang crime in the federal code and specify punishments for gang-related crimes and other violent crimes.

In 2007 Rep. Forbes reintroduced the legislation, which has currently been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Legislative History

Congress Short title Bill number(s) Date introduced Sponsor(s) # of cosponsors Latest status
109th Congress Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005 H.R. 1279 March 14, 2005 Randy Forbes

(R-VA)

 15 Passed House (279-144)[1]
110th Congress Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 880 February 7, 2007 Randy Forbes

(R-VA)

 18 Died in committee
111th Congress Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2009 H.R. 2857 June 12, 2009 Randy Forbes

(R-VA)

 6 Died in committee

References

  • "Gangbusters: It Stops Now". Office of Congressman Randy Forbes. Archived from the original on 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  • "H.R. 880 (reintroduction of bill in 2007)". Library of Congress website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  • Tracy L. Scott (2005-05-10). "Gangbuster Law Targets Juveniles". BET. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  • "National Hispanic Organizations Oppose "The Gangbuster Bill" H.R. 1279" (PDF). National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. 2005-05-10. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
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