Stanley Targets Gang Violence

Nashville, Tenn. – State Sen. Paul Stanley (R-Germantown) spoke yesterday at a press conference for The Tennessee Public Safety Coalition (TPSC) about legislation that he is sponsoring to address gang violence. 

Known as the “Street Terrorism” legislation, SB 1322 proposes to change the penalty for someone convicted of committing a violent crime in concert with two or more other people to a Class A felony.  The offense is currently a Class B felony.

“It is time we took a stand, as a state, against violence and crime in our communities,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis, chairman of the TPSC. “It should not be acceptable to any Tennessean to see an increase in crime—specifically violent crime—year after year.”
 
The TPSC is a statewide organization that was created by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, and the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association.

“Gang violence is a problem and we are going to do what we can to put a stop to it,” said Stanley. “I look forward to working with the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition in moving this legislation forward.”

Serving his first term in the state Senate, Stanley is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Government Operations Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Fiscal Review Committee.

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