Local law enforcement officials are backing a new state law aimed at cracking down on gangs.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 138 into law July 27. Formally known as the N.C. Criminal Gang Suppression Act, the law standardizes criteria for classification of criminal gang membership and makes punishments for certain gang-related crimes stricter.

The law states that any person convicted of a felonyother than a Class A, B1 or B2 that was committedas part of criminal gang activity shall be sentenced at a felony class level one class higher than the principal felony for which the person was convicted.Its also states gang leaders or organizers convicted of gang-related felonies will be sentencedat a felony class level two classes higher than the principal felony for which the person was convicted.

Rocky Mount Police Chief James Moore, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone and Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson praised the new law.

I support the enhanced sentencing components of HB138 as a method to alleviate our communities of the most violent gang members, Moore said.There are a multitude of gangs operating in North Carolina and our region of the state.There are traditional street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs and white supremacist gangs with members residing in the Twin Counties area. Individuals joining and participating in gangs is not a new phenomenon, but it is still a problem that we have to address.

Moore said battling gang violence starts with addressing the issue of gun violence.

I believe our local public health and medical officials should join the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association in declaring gun violence a public health crisis that is in need of the public health disease management and prevention approach to mitigate its impact on our youth, Moore said.

Stone agreed, calling the laws wording precise. He added battling the gang problem in the Twin Counties includes continuing the battle against the opioid epidemic.

I agree with the laws wording 110 percent, Stone said.Gang members and leaders need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.When youve got drugs, youve got gangs. Opioids are killing more people than car wrecks. There should be mandatory jail sentences for gang members and drug dealers, and no reduction of true deals. The community has to come together and the courts have to take a strong stance to combat this problem.

Atkinson echoed Stone and Moores thoughts on gangs being present in the area. He added combating gangs starts at home.

Weve got to get the kids early to keep them from joining gangs, Atkinson said. They need to be educated and taught discipline and responsibility.

With the bill signed into law, it will go into effect beginning Dec. 1.

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New law takes aim at gangs - Rocky Mount Telegram