[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   INTRODUCTION OF STOP-AND-FRISK LEGISLATION TO COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I introduced, together with my 
colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit], legislation to 
help law enforcement officers combat rampant gang violence that is 
threatening our communities all across America. Our legislation 
clarifies that membership in a gang known for violent crime shall be a 
sufficient basis for a police officer to stop and frisk for a weapon. 
Gang violence is not only a problem plaguing our major cities; it is 
starting to creep into smaller communities. The New York Times today 
described on its front page a chilling gang murder in Davenport, IA.
  Just days ago in my own congressional district, a carload of young 
men of one gang came into the small city of Norwood, OH, assaulted a 
group of teenagers of another gang and ended up shooting to death a 20-
year-old.
  We have to do all we can to stem the epidemic of gang violence in 
America. As noted criminologist James Q. Wilson recently stated,

       Our goal should be to reduce the number of people who carry 
     guns unlawfully, especially * * * on streets * * * where the 
     mere presence of a gun can increase the hazards we all face. 
     The most effective way * * * is to encourage[e] the police to 
     make street frisks.

  Captain Tom Williams, assistant chief of the Norwood police, said,

       Your stop and frisk legislation will help make pat downs of 
     gang members, routine. The risks involved in performing the 
     pat downs are few and the costs of not doing so are high.

  I urge you to cosponsor this legislation to help prevent the kind of 
violence we have seen in Norwood, OH, and Davenport, IA, creep into 
your own communities.

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