Growing Gang Violence Focus Of Legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Lawmakers passed legislation today to address gang violence in the state. <br/><br/>The bill would create a task force to implement gang intervention and prevention programs through

Tuesday, March 13th 2007, 4:01 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Lawmakers passed legislation today to address gang violence in the state.

The bill would create a task force to implement gang intervention and prevention programs through the state Office of Juvenile Affairs.

The bill's author, Republican Representative T.W. Shannon of Lawton says there are more than 6-thousand known gang members in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

But Shannon said his hometown of Lawton and smaller cities have also been mired in gang violence.

He said Lawton police handled 954 gang-related calls last year.