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Forum targets growing gun violence

Mike Desmond/wbfo news

More people are being hauled into court for gun violence. Observers say the offenders are younger and carrying heavier weapons.

That's the picture presented last night at a panel discussion on gun violence in St. Joseph University Parish Community Center. City Judge James Macleod says he has young people brought in on new gun charges before prior charges are decided.

Stop the Violence Coalition Executive Director Murray Holman says city schools have to do more by using weapons detectors.

"They need to have them there," Holman said. 

"It's in the budget and let's make it work. The Board of Education has millions and millions of dollars and they aren't using them to prevent people from bringing guns into school, knives or whatever."

Defense lawyer Andrew LoTempio says in some of the most economically deprived areas of the city many young people feel they have to show their gang they can carry a weapon and others carry to protect themselves.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.