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Posted: Wednesday, January 18th, 2006 7:04 AM HST

Attorney General Bennett pitches anti-crime proposals

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaii police and prosecutors want lawmakers to give three-time violent criminals automatic life sentences, allow prosecution for violently killing a fetus and outlaw large machine guns. These were among legislation proposed by Attorney General Mark Bennett today. They will be taken up by the Legislature in this year's session, which starts tomorrow. Bennett says the proposal for mandatory life sentences for people who commit three violent felonies would help keep them off the streets. Bennett says the bill that would enable prosecution of someone who kills or injures viable fetuses is not meant to recognize fetuses as people. He says it's goal is to target ex-boyfriends who have punched pregnant women, or to prosecute drunk drivers who kill a fetus in an accident. The machine gun ban is meant to rid Hawaii of sniper-type assault weapons, which are nearly five feet long and use 50-caliber shells. (Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)