A coalition of mayors and law enforcement agencies urged state lawmakers this morning to create new penalties for gang activity and to devote money toward prevention and intervention.

"What it's about is saving the youth of North Carolina," said Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy. "The insidious nature of gangs is that it destroys our communities."

The state Senate is scheduled to take up two bills later today that address many of the concerns of the mayors and police agencies, reports Dan Kane.

There are differences, though, with House legislation passed last year, so it is likely that both sides will have to work out compromise legislation in a House-Senate conference committee.

A recent Governor's Crime Commission report found that there are nearly 15,000 gang members in the state and more than 550 gangs. Gastonia Police Chief Terry Sult said there are more gang members per capita in communities of less than 75,000 residents than in larger cities.

Some lawmakers, particularly Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat, have been pushing for anti-gang legislation for several years. But debates about the cost of incarceration and whether prevention was being adequately addressed have stalled their efforts.

Michaux and others are optimistic legislation will pass this session. Michaux said more needs to be done before he will sign off on a final package. He wants $10 million in the state budget for prevention.

Others, including the sponsor of the Senate legislation, Malcolm Graham, a Charlotte Democrat, and Durham Mayor Bill Bell said the final legislation should include a provision that gives rehabilitated gang members the ability to expunge their records of their gang activity.