10:43 AM CST on Wednesday, January 25, 2006
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
Dallas County Constables showed some of the high-powered weapons taken from teens. Powerful military rifles, the kind used against United States troops in Iraq, are increasingly being found on young teenagers in North Texas, police said.
The weapons are so powerful they could pierce some body armor, which has some officers worried.
"This is what we are facing here on the streets," said Mike Dupree, Dallas County constable.
High powered rifles, guns and ammunition were all recently taken from teenagers by Dallas County Constables.
"This is the clip of an AK-47 right here," Dupree said while he showed News 8 some of the confiscated weapons and ammunition. "These are hollow points right here."
Dupree said many citizens might be shocked out how easy it is for young kids to get a hold of the high-powered weapons.
"Oh sure, you can give a kid $300, $400 dollars and say, 'Here, go buy a gun,' and he'll be back in less than an hour with a gun," he said.
Erica Hernandez said she agrees after her 13-year-old brother was placed in jail after she said he was armed with a 9-millimeter handgun and robbed a local vendor.
"Thirteen-years-old and he got a hold of anything he could get a hold of," she said.
Some residents in Oak Cliff said they have seen more teenagers with guns as well.
"They get in a beef with somebody or an argument, they can just pop the trunk and take out guns and shoot," said resident Latasha Brown.
Recently, a 15-year-old Dallas girl was arrested and accused of robbing several banks over the last few months. Incidents such as those have authorities nervous.
"This type of fire power right here, you could stand off a division of law officers," Dupree said.
Law enforcement agencies said they are now targeting areas where there are guns and gangs in an attempt to get to the weapons before they end up in young hands.
E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
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