Bill would ban gang membership in ranks

[unhappycamper]

Bill would ban gang membership in ranks
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, December 15, 2007

WASHINGTON — Gang membership among military personnel for the first time would be specifically forbidden under language outlined in the 2008 Defense authorization bill.

Current department regulations prohibit membership in any organizations that “espouse supremacist causes; attempt to create illegal discrimination … advocate the use of force or violence; or otherwise engage in efforts to deprive individuals of their civil rights.”

But they don’t explicitly list street gangs among those groups, an issue lawmakers and law enforcement officials have criticized as a way to overlook possible gang affiliation among troops in the ranks.

“I’ve heard from police officers across the country that there are problems with gangs on posts,” said Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who introduced the amendment.

“The FBI suggests there are problems not only in the states but on bases abroad. So somebody hasn’t been serious enough.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50993



uhc comment: Looks like that waiver thingie is blowing up in their faces.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=6376
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=7791