Democrats Propose A Change To The Consequences For This Violent Crime

Democratic lawmakers in Washington have introduced legislation that would lessen penalties for drive-by shootings.

HB 1692, was proposed by Democratic Washington Reps. Tarra Simmons and David Hackney who say the bill is designed to promote “racial equity in the criminal justice system.”.

HB 1692 would no longer consider drive-by shootings as a form of aggravated first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole.

Simmons said that the aggravating factor for drive-by shootings has only been used once since it was classified as an aggravating factor in 1995.

Simmons Kimonti Carter, 18, participated in a drive-by shooting in 1997 that resulted in the death of college student Corey Pittman and the wounding of two others. Carter was sentenced to 777 years in prison.

“If he had been standing outside of the vehicle at the time, he would’ve faced 240-320 months in prison,” Simmons argued. “Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole because of this law. This law’s history and application… is what we mean when we talk about systemic raicism.”

HB 1692 would also apply to individuals already convicted of aggravated first-degree murder in the past if the drive-by shooting was the only aggravating factor, potentially setting Carter free if the bill passes.