Editorial: A dangerous combination

Friday, March 24, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.

In February 2005 there were 442 juveniles in Clark County who were arrested on gun-related charges. If that sounds alarmingly high, read on.

Last month, a year later, there were 779 minors charged with gun-related offenses - a 76 percent increase.

The Clark County School District is also seeing an upsurge, according to the most recent figures available. In the 2002-2003 school year, 74 guns were confiscated from students. In the following school year 84 guns were seized.

Local officials with juvenile justice programs cannot explain why armed minors are on the rise. "There is no set pattern," District Judge William Voy, who presides over juvenile cases, told the Las Vegas Sun. "You get kids in gangs, and then you get kids with no gang affiliations whatsoever."

Given the startling increase, we believe Juvenile Justice officials should begin tracking the reasons juveniles give for having guns. If it is for protection, it would help to find out who is preying on minors so that they can be taken off the streets. If it is for showing off, perhaps gun safety courses for minors would help. If it is to commit a crime, the child needs the benefit of a strong intervention program.

In the meantime, parents should be aware of the statistic and keep their guns and ammunition separate and locked up. Limiting access to guns in the home could go a long way toward limiting guns among children - and the potential for tragedy.