MO Legislature special session on crime

Kansas City representatives will try to address violent crime in a Missouri special session.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TOTACKLE CRIME GETSSTARTED TODAY.THE MISSOURILEGISLATURE WILL ENTERA SPECIAL SESSION ALLABOUT REDUCINGVIOLENCE.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER CHARLIEKEEGAN SPOKE SO STATEREPS FROM KANSAS CITYABOUT THIER MINDSETGOING INTO THE SESSION.THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS ISPOKE TO SAY THEY KNOWVIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM -THEY HEAR IT FROM THEIRCONSTITUENTS.BUT THEY FEEL A LITTLEHANDCUFFED GOING INTOTHE SPECIAL SESSION.REPRESENTATIVES GREGRAZER AND BARBARAWASHINGTON FEEL LIKETHEY GUN CONTROL -MENTAL HEALTH - ANDOTHER ROOT CAUSES OFVIOLENCE NEED TO BE ONTHE TABLE.THE GOVERNOR HAS LAIDOUT A VERY SPECIFICGUIDELINE FOR WHAT THESESSION WILL FOCUS ON.THE REPS I SPOKE TO DIDSEEM OPTIMISTIC ABOUTIMPROVING WITNESSPROTECTION IN THESTATE.State Rep.

Greg Razer //House District 2547:47-47:57SIf somebody has seen acrime, they"re going tofearful for retaliation.

Weshould be able to, if we needthem to testify, we should beable to protect them.""butted together ""State Rep.

BarbaraWashington //House District 231:50:08-1:50:24SThat [witness protectionfor witnesses not to have toface accused] is somethingthat before I say yes on wouldhave to look at both sides.

Wedefinitely want to protect ourwitnesses, so that we can getmore crime solved.

But wealso want to be in a position,where we are not taking awaythe constitutional rights ofanybody.THE SESSION BEGINSTODAY AND WILL LASTTHROUGH ABOUT MIDAUGUST.REPORTING LIVE IN KCMOCHARLIE KEEGAN 41ACTION NEWS TODAY.CHARLIE WHAT ARE SOMEOF THE GOVERNOR"SGUIDELINES FOR THISSESSION.THE GOVERNOR WANTS TOFOCUS ON JUVENILEJUSTICE - AND PUNISHINGADULTS FOR INVOLVINGJUVENILES IN CRIMES.HE ALSO WANTS TOREMOVE A RULE THATSAYS TO BE A POLICEOFFICER IN ST LOUIS YOUHAVE TO LIVE IN ST LOUIS.KC HAS THE SAME RULE -SO IT"LL BEINTERESTING TO SEE IFTHE DISCUSSION ABOUTCHANGING THE RULEBROADENS OUT TOINCLUDE