OFF THE WIRE
Sounds like Australia is here. Guilt by association.
PORTLAND, Ore. – In an attempt to crack down on violent (*club*) activity, Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a crime just being linked to a (*club*).
Portland saw its latest (*club*)-related shooting in Northeast Portland on Thursday. Edward Paden Jr., 18, was shot and killed near the corner of Northeast 60th Avenue and Killingsworth after a fight in a gas station parking lot. Police haven't arrested anyone yet in the killing.
Mourners on Thursday dropped off balloons and other mementos at a growing memorial for Paden at the site where he died.
The big question is how would authorities decide who's a (*club*) member and who's not. The bill says any group of three or more people whose main purpose is criminal activity, has a commonly known name or symbol and regularly engages in criminal acts would be considered a "criminal street (*club*)."
Right now police track (*club*) members but there's no law against belonging to any particular (*club*) even if that (*club*) is repeatedly tied to criminal activity. House Bill 2679 and its companion, House Bill 2851, would give judges another tool for cracking down on (*club*) members. Under the new law, just being a (*club*) member would be a felony.
Sounds like Australia is here. Guilt by association.
PORTLAND, Ore. – In an attempt to crack down on violent (*club*) activity, Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a crime just being linked to a (*club*).
Portland saw its latest (*club*)-related shooting in Northeast Portland on Thursday. Edward Paden Jr., 18, was shot and killed near the corner of Northeast 60th Avenue and Killingsworth after a fight in a gas station parking lot. Police haven't arrested anyone yet in the killing.
Mourners on Thursday dropped off balloons and other mementos at a growing memorial for Paden at the site where he died.
The big question is how would authorities decide who's a (*club*) member and who's not. The bill says any group of three or more people whose main purpose is criminal activity, has a commonly known name or symbol and regularly engages in criminal acts would be considered a "criminal street (*club*)."
Right now police track (*club*) members but there's no law against belonging to any particular (*club*) even if that (*club*) is repeatedly tied to criminal activity. House Bill 2679 and its companion, House Bill 2851, would give judges another tool for cracking down on (*club*) members. Under the new law, just being a (*club*) member would be a felony.
"We have people that are in (*club*), that have legal guns and you can't do a whole lot about it," said Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Portland. "This will give a judge the authority to kind of drop the hammer on them. And we're seeing more and more of this vicious (*club*) activity. We want to get that stopped."
Anyone found guilty of a crime tied to (*club*) activity could also get a stiffer sentence under the bill. (*club*)-related crime convictions would also go into the Oregon State Police Law Enforcement Data System with a special designation – "(*club*) related."
That would give any police agency in the state a heads-up that someone has committed a crime tied to (*club*) activity.
The criminal (*club*) activity bill had its first hearing Thursday before the state House Judiciary Committee.
The Oregon American Civil Liberties Union told lawmakers it is concerned that the definition of a "criminal street (*club*)" is too vague.
"The breadth of the bill and the confusion that will result from its definitions, or lack thereof, risks violating a defendant's due process rights because that defendant is not on notice of what activity is criminal," the ACLU said.
The organization also argued that current laws are strong enough to crack down on (*club*) activity and urged lawmakers to not advance the bills.
•House Bill 2679
•House Bill 2851
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Oregon-proposal-would-make-being-linked-to-a-(*club*)-a-crime-200542791.html
Anyone found guilty of a crime tied to (*club*) activity could also get a stiffer sentence under the bill. (*club*)-related crime convictions would also go into the Oregon State Police Law Enforcement Data System with a special designation – "(*club*) related."
That would give any police agency in the state a heads-up that someone has committed a crime tied to (*club*) activity.
The criminal (*club*) activity bill had its first hearing Thursday before the state House Judiciary Committee.
The Oregon American Civil Liberties Union told lawmakers it is concerned that the definition of a "criminal street (*club*)" is too vague.
"The breadth of the bill and the confusion that will result from its definitions, or lack thereof, risks violating a defendant's due process rights because that defendant is not on notice of what activity is criminal," the ACLU said.
The organization also argued that current laws are strong enough to crack down on (*club*) activity and urged lawmakers to not advance the bills.
•House Bill 2679
•House Bill 2851
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Oregon-proposal-would-make-being-linked-to-a-(*club*)-a-crime-200542791.html