WILSON COMES TO L.A. TO SIGN `TOUGH' ANTI-CRIME LEGISLATION.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Gov. Pete Wilson For others named Pete Wilson, see . Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. Wilson served as the thirty-sixth Governor of California (1991–1999), the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that signed a package of anti-crime bills Thursday in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. that he predicted will significantly help the LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. and other agencies crack down on street gangs and gun violence. Flanked by Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. , LAPD Chief Bernard Parks and other local officials, Wilson signed four bills - including one described by supporters as the nation's ``toughest'' law against criminals using guns. ``I want every gangbanger gang·bang·er n. 1. Slang A member of a violent street gang. 2. Vulgar Slang One who takes part in a gangbang. to understand that every time they pull a gun, it makes them the target - they're in the bull's eye, and they're looking at 25 years to life,'' Wilson said before signing AB 4. The new law increases the penalties for individuals using a gun in the commission of a felony, adding 10 years to the sentence if a gun is brandished, 20 years if the gun is fired and 25 years-to-life if someone is injured. The legislation was drafted by Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Tom Bordonaro Jr., R-San Luis Obispo, who 25 years ago lost his 17-year-old sister when she was shot twice in the head by an abductor ab·duc·tor n. A muscle that draws a body part, such as a finger, arm, or toe, away from the midline of the body or of an extremity. abductor that which abducts. who never served any jail time. ``It's taken me over 25 years for something good to come of my sister's death,'' Bordonaro said of the bill's signing. Bordonaro worked for the bill's passage with Mike Reynolds For Hon Mike Reynolds MP, Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, see Mike Reynolds (politician). Michael Lee Reynolds (1930-) is a voice actor who is also known as Mike L. Reynolds, Peter Brooks, Hank Smith, and Ray Michaels. , who became a key author of the state's ``three strikes, you're out'' law after losing a daughter to murder. Reynolds said Thursday that AB 4 is a good follow-up to the ``three strikes'' law. ``When it comes to gun violence, you can't wait three times,'' he said. Wilson also signed into law two bills by Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, including one establishing a statewide witness-protection program to be administered by the Attorney General's Office. ``We simply will not allow the state to turn its back on those with the courage to turn state's evidence A colloquial term for testimony given by an Accomplice or joint participant in the commission of a crime, subject to an agreement that the person will be granted Immunity ,'' Wilson said. The governor said intimidation of witnesses by gang members is one reason why gangs like the 18th Street Gang have grown in power in Los Angeles and other cities. The other Hertzberg bill signed Thursday, AB 853, also addresses the gang problem by creating a multiagency gang intervention program called the Community Law Enforcement and Recovery demonstration project. The program will be operated by the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . ,
although Wilson acknowledged that the state still has to allocate
adequate funds for the program once the Legislature reconvenes in
January.
The last bill signed by Wilson toughens the penalties for home-invasion robberies, designating the crime as a violent felony so that perpetrators will be required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Parks hailed the package of measures as ``major pieces of legislation that impact law enforcement statewide.'' Riordan also said the signing of the bills will allow the LAPD to make the city safer. ``Today is another milestone in that fight,'' Riordan said. ``The legislation . . . will increase our arsenal in the fight against gangs.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: City officials -- including LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, far right -- aplaud Gov. Pete Wilson's signing of anti-crime bills. David Sprague/Daily News |
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