Prosecutors say it's all about lawmakers providing them with the tools they need to combat crime. And the top prosecutor in Baltimore city and Prince George's County are lifting their voices.
Baltimore state's attorney Ivan Bates, for now, is seemingly consistent. From the beginning, determined to be tough on crime.
Bates was in Annapolis just last month at the judicial proceedings committee pushing for legislation to stiffen penalties for misdemeanor gun offenses. He wants a maximum of five years, regardless of age, in part because most misdemeanor offenders only have to serve 25 percent of a jail sentence.
"I'm looking to make the possession and transportation of carrying a firearm five-year maximum across the board," Bates told lawmakers. "It would hopefully prevent many homicides from occurring across our city and state," he said.
Tougher sentences, juvenile crime, Bates tackling these issues.
And he's not alone.
Aisha Braveboy, the Prince George's County State's Attorney is also putting pressure on lawmakers in Annapolis to help crack down on crime.
For Braveboy, specifically, there's concern over carjackings in the county, last week with 12 armed carjackings in just 48 hours.
"Increasingly we are finding that there is organized crime that is occurring around carjackings," said Braveboy.
The PG county prosecutor now pushing for the passage of a state organized crime law to allow stiffer sentences when a criminal enterprise is discovered.
"We need the tools to go after everyone involved in carjacking crimes as well as other crimes in our community," said Braveboy.
Meanwhile, Bates' proposal is now a sponsored bill and is moving through the Statehouse with at least 10 sponsors, both democrats and republicans supporting it.