LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Prison reform advocates are asking Nebraska lawmakers to end mandatory minimum sentences for certain gun and drug crimes, saying the get-tough-on-crime approach has backfired.

Their comments on Wednesday came as Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha presented a bill to eliminate the minimums for mid-level felony charges.

Chambers says such laws were popular when they were approved, but now the state is dealing with overcrowded prisons.

ACLU of Nebraska lobbyist Alan Peterson says mandatory minimums would help ease prison crowding and give offenders an incentive to behave, because they could qualify right away for good-time credit on their sentences.

Representatives for Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and the police department oppose the bill, arguing that it would undermine their efforts to clamp down on gun crimes and gang violence.