McDonnell Says He'll Target Gangs
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In Leesburg, GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Airs Anti-Violence Plan
Originally published at 12:37 p.m., May 29, 2009
Updated at 12:00 a.m., May 30, 2009
Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell, citing a deadly gang-connected attack in Lansdowne in March, announced a plan to address gang violence in a speech Thursday at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg.
"We have seen the presence of gangs in Northern Virginia that we never thought we would see," McDonnell said. "It is time to intensify our efforts."
He outlined a proposal that includes the expansion of Virginia's Gang Reduction and Intervention Program; increases federal and, possibly, state funding for the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force; creates "gang-free zones" in public areas near schools, including bus stops, hospitals and community centers; creates a state anti-gang coordinator under the Virginia secretary x of public safety to centralize state policing efforts; and toughens state penalties for gang recruitment.
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"The gangs in L.A. and Chicago, the Bloods and the Crips, and the ethnic gangs, MS-13, have taken hold and become much more organized," he said. "They're involved in drugs and immigrant smuggling, and communities where gangs took root 30 years ago are still dealing with the problems. We don't want to become them."
During his speech, McDonnell mentioned the March 22 slaying of William Bennett, a retired Army officer, who was beaten to death when he and his wife took a morning walk near their home.
Loudoun County sheriff's deputies have linked four men to the attack on Bennett and his wife, Cynthia, who was critically injured, and officials said a 17-year-old juvenile arrested in the case had a prior conviction for street gang participation. Authorities said they think the four suspects are members of a gang or associated with one.
McDonnell was introduced by Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), and the event was attended by Loudoun's top law enforcement officials, Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson and Commonwealth's Attorney James E. Plowman.
Simpson said he supported McDonnell's plan to increase the penalty for gang recruitment of a juvenile from a misdemeanor to a felony, noting that many adult gang members have "juveniles carry out their dirty work."
"You've got to hit them where it hurts," Simpson said.
McDonnell made anti-gang initiatives a key component of his tenure as attorney general, helping craft a 25-minute anti-gang documentary, "The Wrong Family: Virginia Fights Back Against Gangs," that was distributed to state law enforcement agencies.
Tagged: Bob McDonnell, gang, Jim Plowman, Loudoun Sheriff's Office, Steve Simpson
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Mr. McDonnell has been attorney general for the last three years. Why is he waiting until now to do something about violent gangs?
Posted by alert4jsw (anonymous) on May 31, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. McDonnell has been attorney general for the last three years. Why is he waiting until now to do something about violent gangs?
Posted by alert4jsw (anonymous) on May 31, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
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Attorney Generals don't get to participate in legislations. If there is no law against certain gang activity or the law is too lenient, there is nothing a prosecutor can do.
Posted by Chuckled (anonymous) on May 31, 2009 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We appreciate and realize first hand just how important it is combat gangs. Until now, VA has been soft on fighting these terrorists.
Posted by fury60 (anonymous) on June 1, 2009 at 4:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about targeting Job growth in Renewable Energy and other beneficial sectors for Virginia?
Virginia is shedding Jobs while Tennessee of all places recently attracted $2 Billion of new investment by offering to pay the carbon tax for Renewable energy companies.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...
“CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's unusual commitment to cover the cost of any future carbon tax for green companies that make major investments is being credited for luring two big solar energy developments worth more than $2 billion.”
Florida Light and Power (FPL) recently partnered with Cisco and GE to enact a $200 million program to install Smart meters in 1 million homes in Miami, for which they get reimbursed by the DOE for 50%, ($100 million).
What is VA or Dominion Power doing to invest in more efficient energy use, and smart metering technology (beside a small pilot program in Charlottesville)?
The DOE has $3.3 Billion on the table for smart metering programs, while Dominion is more interested in getting the Wise coal plant built and adding its damaging environmental costs to VA's health and environmental costs.
http://earth2tech.com/2009/04/20/smart-g...
http://seekingalpha.com/article/131818-g...
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Green...
What can VA do to attract jobs and investment without sacrificing quality of life, services, and protecting our environment from overdevelopment?
VA has the East Coasts best proven resources for Offshore Wind that can be developed in association with the U.S. Navy which is required to get 25% of its power from Renewable Sources by 2025. The feasibility studies have already been completed by the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium ( VCERC: http://www.vcerc.org/ ) which prove VA can get 25% of it’s total energy needs from Offshore wind alone by 2025, and do it at a lower price than coal and nuclear production. Jobs created from this will far exceed those from Coal plants and blasting mountaintops for coal removal.
Posted by liveride (anonymous) on June 1, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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