Two local lawmakers’ efforts to combat gang‐related crime in Texas may not seem to be such a big deal here in Montgomery County. But considering our proximity to Harris County and with two major thoroughfares cutting though our area, gang presence will be an ever‐increasing problem if lawmakers don’t take action now. 

The 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment, produced by the National Gang Intelligence Center and the National Drug Intelligence Center, determined that criminal gangs account for as much as 80 percent of the crimes committed in many communities throughout the nation. Gang presence was reported by 58 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in 2008, up from 45 percent in 2004. There are now approximately 1 million gang members operating in 20,000 gangs across the nation, according to the study. 

And the Houston and Harris County area is one of the most penetrated areas by gangs, accounting for more than 10,000 members. 

Gangs are linked to many crimes, including alien smuggling, armed robbery, assault, auto theft, drug trafficking, extortion, fraud, home invasions, identity theft, murder and weapons trafficking. 

And while the study determined that Montgomery County had less than 500 gang members in 2008, the Interstate 45 and U.S. 59 corridors are prime pipelines for them to transport drugs and weapons or make the short trip from Houston to commit robberies and thefts, sell their drugs, expand their territories and recruiting base, as well as hide from law enforcement. 

According to the report, they are migrating from urban areas to suburban and rural communities, making innocent residents more vulnerable. 

But state Sen. Tommy Williams, R‐The Woodlands, and Rep. Brandon Creighton, R‐Conroe, are two of a handful of Texas legislators spearheading an effort to cripple the growing gang problem. 

Last week, Williams filed Senate Bill 1065, the Texas Racketeering and Corruption Act, while Creighton filed HB 1618 and 1372, which address drug, weapon and human trafficking. 

SB 1065, co‐authored by Leticia Van de Putte, D‐San Antonio, gives the Texas attorney general the ability to seek court orders to seize criminals’ property and freeze their assets. It also makes racketeering a second‐degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison, and makes criminal enterprises that harm children a third‐degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison. 

HB 1618 is the House version of Williams’ bill. HB 1372, co‐authored by Rep. Mark Shelton, R‐Fort Worth, allows victims of human trafficking to qualify for reparations under the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund. 

Williams calls this the most important bill he is filing this session. 

Considering Texas’ proximity to Mexico, the trafficking of drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants will continue to keep our law enforcement busy (The study determined gangs are increasing their cross‐border criminal activity). These bills help put some muscle in punishing gang members who are infiltrating our society‐bringing drugs, weapons and violence into our communities. 

Citizens will be safe only when law enforcement is equipped with the necessary manpower and tools to go after these criminals–and the judicial system has adequate punishment in place to keep them behind bars.