Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sent an open letter to state lawmakers Friday objecting to anti-gang legislation being considered at the General Assembly.

The group stated it wants to make sure the final gang bill includes prevention programs, not just punishment.

The Street Gang Prevention Act would increase penalties for gang members convicted of crimes – actions that now are misdemeanors would become felonies, for example – and would make recruiting youths into gangs a crime in itself.