A legislative effort to broaden the definition of gangs and criminal gang activity appears to have failed for the second straight year.

After passing the Senate, the two House committees to which the bill was was referred declined to consider Senate Bill 2868, which would impose harsh penalties for adults who get kids involved in gangs.

The legislation sought to define gangs as three or more people with identifying colors, clothing and hand signs that engage in “criminal gang activity.”

Backers of the bill said it was a remedy for the state’s gang problem; opponents raised civil-liberties concerns and said it could lead to racial profile.

A companion House bill died earlier in the session amid intense debate.

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Gang bill shot down again

by R.L. Nave, Mississippi Today
February 27, 2018

<h1>Gang bill shot down again</h1> <p class="byline">by R.L. Nave, Mississippi Today <br />February 27, 2018</p> <p>A legislative effort to broaden the definition of gangs and criminal gang activity appears to have failed for the second straight year.</p> <p>After passing the Senate, the two House committees to which the bill was was referred declined to consider Senate Bill 2868, which would impose harsh penalties for adults who get kids involved in gangs.</p> <p>The legislation sought to define gangs as three or more people with identifying colors, clothing and hand signs that engage in “criminal gang activity.”</p> <p>Backers of the bill said it was a remedy for the state’s gang problem; opponents raised civil-liberties concerns and said it could lead to racial profile.</p> <p>A companion House bill died earlier in the session amid intense debate.</p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org/2018/02/27/gang-bill-shot/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org">Mississippi Today</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MT_square-thumb.jpg?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=134129&amp;ga3=UA-75003810-1" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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