Memphians Push for Tougher Crime Laws

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Looking for answers on how to fund new state crime bills during a recession and cash strapped budget year for Tennessee, members of the Citizen Safety Coalition picked the brains of lawmakers throughout Legislative Plaza Wednesday.

"Crime is not the only thing competing for taxpayer dollars," said Rep. Joe Towns.

Over and over again these crusaders against gun crime were told everything costs money and with their proposed bills already given fiscal notes between 17 and 48 million dollars, they needed some review.

"It shouldn't cost that much money and fiscal review will have to convince me that it costs this much. If it doesn't, let's do it," said Rep. Larry Miller.

More than 50 people made the trip to Nashville from Memphis for scheduled or impromptu discussions with lawmakers from Shelby County and across the state. Their pitch, Tennessee's laws against gun violence are weak and they need strengthening in order for there to be a change in crime rates.

"Other states that have done this like New York for example saw not only a decrease in the number of inmates in their facilities but also a decrease in crime," said Linda Miller with the Citizen Safety Coalition.

The group represents people from neighborhood associations, churches and businesses. Many of them are also family members of victims who lost their lives to people who used a gun to commit a crime.

"If these people who set out to rob him hadn't come there with a 40 caliber weapon, perhaps we would have had a robbery, not a murder," said Beverly Walker with the Citizen Safety Coalition.

And while nothing became law during their time in Nashville, the group was advised to prioritize its four proposed bills and to pick the one with the most impact if passed.

"The way this game works up here, if you don't get something done, you have to come back and people have to do it over and over again," said Rep. Towns.