(Columbia) - In the dictionary, it’s very clear what a gang is; but, on South Carolina’s law books, there’s no statewide, uniform explanation of gangs or their activities.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is one leader who wants that changed.

“We've been dealing with gangs for eight years so for eight years we'd like to have seen some type of gang legislation,” Lott said.

The sheriff says South Carolina needs a law that clearly defines gangs and makes it illegal to recruit new members.

State Senator Jake Knotts (R-Lexington Co.) agrees but for five years his sponsored legislation has also gone much further.

Opponents say that broad-reach may be why his bill hasn't gotten through the State House. That hasn’t deterred Knotts, though. He plans to file a sixth version at the end of the month.

“The bill has been worked on over the summer and we're trying to iron out some of the differences the members had,” Knotts said.

Still, other lawmakers say a criminal--by definition--is someone who breaks the law. Representative Todd Rutherford (D-Richland Co.) says just because the state creates more laws doesn't mean we'll see less crime.

“Making stiff penalties, having harsher punishments--it doesn't work,” Rutherford said. “We've been doing it for years. We did it on the DUI stuff, the CDV (criminal domestic violence) legislation. It does not work. We've got to start addressing the root cause.”

For Rutherford, that means creating more youth programs instead of laws.

“...Getting back to why people have an interest in becoming a gang member. Why these kids have absolutely nothing to do when they get home from school,” he said.

Currently 35 states have gang legislation ranging from statutes that define what a gang is to harsher penalties for gang-related crimes.