A Milwaukee alderwoman said she was held at gunpoint in an attempted carjacking last fall, but despite her terrifying experience she's taking a stance against a proposed bill that tightens penalties for carjackers.
In a written statement, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis said she still 100 percent believes in prevention over incarceration.
Back in November, Lewis said was targeted by a young man for her vehicle.
"The perpetrator opened my car door and pointed a gun to my head,” she said. “Luckily he saw my children in the back, and decided against trying to drag me out and take the vehicle."
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton said it’s a terrifying story the entire community is experiencing on a daily basis.
"None of us are immune to the types of things that are happening in this city," Hamilton said.
Lewis said she waited half a year to share her traumatic experience because she does not want to see a proposed state law passed that would create harsher penalties for those responsible. Assembly bill 92 is sponsored by Rep. Joe Sanfelippo of New Berlin.
"The system right now is focused so much on the offenders that they're just forgetting about the victims," Sanfelippo said. "Right now under current law, carjacking is treated the same as if you were just to steal a car out of somebody's garage and take it for a joyride."
Sanfelippo said this comes after a rash of carjackings in Milwaukee County. If passed, his proposal would make carjacking a felony offense with fines up to $50,000 dollars and 15 years behind bars.
“Hopefully that will make people think twice before they start engaging in this type of activity,” he said.
After Lewis' close call, she said this proposal would not make Milwaukee safer.
"We need to focus our policy and financial resources on the front end to prevent crime and violence before it starts," she said.
Hamilton told TODAY’S TMJ4 the Milwaukee Common Council is also working on a comprehensive approach to address carjackings. He said it would provide targeted enforcement along with more opportunities for youth.
Be sure and watch TODAY'S TMJ4 on Roku! We are the only station in Milwaukee to provide the latest news, weather and sports on the device. Search for us on Roku today!
