Drive-By Measure Signed : Law enforcement: Gov. Wilson OKs bill that could make such shootings a capital crime if victims die. Voters must approve change.

Gov. Pete Wilson, moving to recharge his flagging presidential campaign by emphasizing a strong anti-crime stand, signed legislation Wednesday that could set the stage for drive-by shooters to receive the death penalty if their victims die.

“Hanging is too good” for drive-by shooters, a truculent Wilson said at a bill-signing ceremony in Van Nuys where he was surrounded by police officers, community leaders and crime victims, including two who survived the Sept. 16 drive-by shooting at Popeye’s Fried Chicken restaurant in Reseda.

Wilson also reacted testily Wednesday when reporters asked if his GOP presidential nomination bid was on the ropes.

“It’d be nice if those covering this would spend more time on the issues, less on inside baseball,” the governor said, while refusing to provide his own characterization of the fortunes of his latest political bid.

That campaign has in recent days been hamstrung by financial difficulties, staff resignations and continuing signs that California Republicans are not enthused that their party leader wants to go to Washington.

Against this backdrop of sagging prospects, Wilson on Wednesday rehashed his anti-crime record in Sacramento and pulled out the stops to describe his contempt for drive-by shooters.

Wilson signed legislation that lays the foundation for amending the state’s 1978 death penalty law to add fatal drive-by shootings to the list of capital crimes. Nineteen types of crimes are now punishable by the death penalty, but voters must approve any expansion.

State Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), author of the drive-by shooting law, said he expects voters to approve the death penalty expansion in the statewide election next March.

“We’re going to enact tougher laws and speak to these animals who have become so brutal that they callously disregard human life. We’ll speak to them in the only language they understand,” Wilson said as prepared to sign the drive-by shooting law.

“They have issued a death warrant in random fashion to decent, innocent people and, by God, we’ll issue a death warrant to them. We will not tolerate this law of the jungle.”

Wilson made his remarks at the LAPD’s Van Nuys Division police station. He was joined there by Ayala, LAPD Chief Willie L. Williams and two survivors of the Popeye’s shooting, Henry Hagwood and Brian Henderson, both of Tarzana.

Still wearing bandages, Hagwood and Henderson, who were eating at the restaurant when injured, thanked Wilson for signing the legislation. “I’m hoping it’ll bring justice to our community,” said Hagwood, a Bullock’s employee who was shot in the neck.

Daniel Mejia, 22, of Reseda, an alleged gang member, has been arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with murder. The shooting resulted in the death of Samuel Barrios, a 16-year-old gardener who police say was associated with a rival street gang. Barrios’ sister and cousin were in the audience Wednesday, applauding Wilson’s stand.

Mejia is being held in lieu of $2.6-million bail. Police expect to make other arrests in the shooting.

Williams also praised the drive-by shooting measure as another useful tool to fight crime.

Wilson used Wednesday’s signing ceremony to expand on his anti-crime record, including his proposal to let taxpayers nationwide elect to have 1% of their federal taxes be used for crime-fighting efforts in their own communities.

If the plan were enacted, it could generate up to $6.5 billion annually, or five times as much tax revenue as the “so-called Clinton crime bill,” Wilson said, referring to 1994 legislation backed by the President to provide grants to local jurisdictions to hire up to 100,000 officers.

Wilson grew angry when asked if there was any way to characterize his presidential bid as anything other than disastrous. Wilson said that there was but then refused to elaborate, electing instead to walk away from the microphones and disappear into the Van Nuys Police Station.