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Judges, prosecutors clash with defenders over elevating juvenile handgun possession to felony
Summary
Judge testimony and prosecutors urged tougher penalties after a sharp rise in juvenile handgun cases, while defense advocates warned the change could sweep low-risk offenses into the adult-focused EJJ system. Lawmakers asked for narrower language and an amendment pairing with EJJ reforms.
Circuit Judge Troy Braswell told the committee that juvenile handgun possession and gun-related juvenile offenses have climbed in recent years and that judges and prosecutors worry the current misdemeanor classification limits tools for public-safety responses. Braswell said commitments to the Division of Youth Services for the misdemeanor offense rose from 12 in 2018 to 35 in 2022.
The bill’s sponsors argued the legislature should signal seriousness by elevating juvenile handgun possession to a felony in…
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