U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume has submitted written testimony to a Maryland House committee supporting a gun bill. The measure introduced on behalf of Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates would raise the maximum penalty for illegal gun possession from three to five years for anyone 21 and older. Mfume says crime must be the top priority for all public servants and everyone wants safer streets and fewer criminals. He says more than 300 lives have been lost in Baltimore for too many years in a row – and too much violence happens with too many guns that are too readily available.