Senate OKs More Prison For Drive-By Shooters
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan lawmakers are getting tougher on drive-by shooters.
Legislation approved unanimously Tuesday by the state Senate would increase prison time for people who intentionally shoot from a vehicle.
Those convicted now get up to four years in prison for endangering another's safety. The bipartisan bills would stiffen the penalty to 10 years in prison.
Maximum sentences would be higher if victims are injured or killed, and judges would have the option of sentencing defendants to longer terms running concurrently with other convictions.
Legislators say innocent families deserve to stay out of harm's way in cities such as Detroit, where drive-by shootings are a significant problem. The bills now go to the House.
They bills are sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Marleau of Lake Orion and Democratic Sen. Jim Ananich of Flint.
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