| Updated: 3/12/2009 10:03 pm |
Published: 3/12/2009 9:21 pm
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They kick in doors and terrorize the people inside. They are home invaders. And now there's an effort underway in Oklahoma to put them behind bars for a longer period of time. FOX 23’s Douglas Clark has more.
It was 3am on December 23rd when three armed teenagers broke into a North Tulsa house and shot a woman. The homeowner returned fire, killing one of the teens. It was just one of 16 Tulsa home invasions in December alone. So far this year, there have been 12. That’s why state lawmakers want to increase the penalties for convicted home invaders.
House Bill 1030, introduced by state Representative John Wright of Tulsa, would increase the minimum prison time for home invaders from seven to ten years. And those convicted would have to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
“I’m all in favor of it. I think most of the penalties for infractions are a little lax. And if somebody breaks into a home, they deserve what they get,” says Claremore resident Steve Morrison.
But others worry that with prisons already over-crowded, state lawmakers should be focusing their attention elsewhere.
“There are other people out there like rapists and murderers who are serving lesser penalties and are out on parole sooner because we can’t afford to keep them in longer,” says Tulsa resident Erica Parsons.
Representative Wright introduced the bill after hearing numerous reports of home invasions from FOX 23 newscasts. In a statement, he said, “Unfortunately, the Tulsa area has experienced a rash of this type of criminal activity. It’s a growing problem that needs to be addressed immediately.”
The bill has passed the state House and now moves to the Senate for final approval. If passed, the tougher penalties would go into effect November 1st.
