STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLANS TO CRACK DOWN ON VILENT CRIME

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Just about any time you pick up a newspaper or turn on the television these days, there's a story about somebody getting shot, stabbed or knocked on the head.

More and more, violent crimes - especially crimes committed by children - are on people's minds, especially those of lawmakers and Gov. Mel Carnahan, who wants the legislature to do something about the problem during the session which starts Jan. 5.

Carnahan, who recently formed a task force on urban violence, said he's still deciding what to ask lawmakers to do, although cracking down on juveniles committing violent crimes is at the top of his list.

"What we've got to understand is that those who have a history of violence do not need the same care and protection, or at least we should not give it to them, that we are giving to juveniles generally," Carnahan said in an interview.

The governor said he is still studying the idea of juvenile criminals being treated as adults by the courts - a popular theme with some lawmakers. But Carnahan said he also wanted to look at alternatives.

The governor said some controls on juveniles having handguns are needed although he said there should be exceptions allowing firearm possession for hunting or target shooting.

State law doesn't prohibit minors from possessing weapons. But the law prevents a county or municipality from enacting any gun-control legislation more stringent than state regulations.

Eighty-seven teenagers between ages 15 and 19 were slain by firearms last year in Missouri, compared to 66 in 1991, the Department of Health says. Of the 87 killed, 74 were black. Most of the deaths were in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.

Among lawmakers wanting to change the juvenile justice laws is Senate Minority Leader Franc Flotron.

"If the General Assembly does not take it upon itself to reform the system and consider rewriting the juvenile code, we will be guilty of writing off Missouri's next generation," said Flotron, R-Creve Coeur.

Flotron wants hard-core, repeat offenders found guilty of crimes considered felonies under adult penalties to be automatically certified as adults for subsequent offenses.

He also wants to increase penalties for possession of firearms on or near school grounds and give prosecutors greater access to records of juveniles involved in serious crimes.

"The aggravating problem in Missouri has been the juvenile justice system has not kept pace with the increase in crime," Flotron said.

Sen. John Russell has similar legislation to permit juveniles to be tried as adults for felony crimes.

"Many juvenile offenders are as experienced and mature as some adults," said Russell, R-Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Moseley, D-Columbia, has a version making it a felony rather than a misdemeanor to sell a handgun to anyone under age 18. He said 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to prohibit or restrict the sale of handguns to minors.

The senator said he may borrow from a recent Colorado law barring possession of firearms by anybody under age 18, unless they were using them for target practice or competition.

Also, Rep. Quincy Troupe, D-St. Louis, is sponsoring a bill allowing any juvenile who commits any crime with a firearm to be tried as an adult.

Other areas of crime will be the topic of debate during the session which ends on May 13. For instance, Rep. Phil Smith, D-Louisiana, has a bill creating the crime of carjacking.

Legislation by Rep. Craig Hosmer, D-Springfield, closes loopholes in laws protecting domestic violence victims. It has the backing of Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Hosmer's legislation would allow Missouri courts to issue protection orders for domestic violence victims if another state has issued such an order. It also would allow police officers to honor protection orders by other states.

State courts could issue protection orders for victims who work in Missouri or were abused in the state, but who live elsewhere. Now, such orders are available only to Missouri residents.