TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida lawmakers want to step up the fight against gang crime with legislation that would impose tougher penalties on gang leaders.

Attorney General Bill McCollum joined Senate and House leaders on Wednesday to announce the legislation, which has been filed in both chambers.

The new law would make running a gang a first-degree felony, punishable by life in prison. It also would strengthen witness tampering laws and add new offenses to racketeering laws.


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)