01-31-2007 Mayor Returns from National Summit Against Illegal Guns

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effectively in order to stop illegal gun traffickers. This is a national problem which needs national attention." Illegal guns are a mounting problem in many areas across the country, as well as in Indiana. Every year 30,000 Americans are killed due to gun violence. In 2004, in Indiana, there were 56 firearm deaths of children and teens. In 2006, South Bend police, through the Neighborhood Enforcement Services Team (NEST), removed twenty-three illegal guns from the streets. "Gun violence and illegal guns is a national problem," said Mayor Luecke, "but it affects each of us locally." To stem the rising violence, South Bend law enforcement has pursued a multi-faceted approach. Locally they have added an Anti-Gang Unit to the Neighborhood Enforcement Services Team. In 2006,the SBPD confiscated 433 firearms during its investigations. Recognizing the need for cooperative law enforcement,they have also joined forces with the multi jurisdictional Project Disarm Task Force. In the last two years, the task force,through their investigations have confiscated over 1025 firearms in the northern district of Indiana. Law enforcement officials have also welcomed the introduction of a U.S. Attorney initiative, called "Don't Lie for the Other Guy". The "Don't Lie" campaign aims to educate federal firearms licensees on how to detect straw purchasers (a major source of illegal weapons in the U.S.) and illustrates to the greater public that it is illegal to purchase guns for the purpose of turning them over to a third party. "We are committed to maintaining safe communities, free from firearm violence," said the Mayor. "The MAIG summit was a positive step in the right direction. We will continue to fight for the rights of our law-abiding citizens and to protect our communities from the scourge of illegal guns."