KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo has seen a decrease in youth gun violence so far this year, but that doesn’t mean it’s been eliminated entirely, as four shootings on the 4th of July were proof of that.
Local officials are calling on parents to do a better job of managing their children, especially at night.
Kalamazoo Public Schools superintendent Darrin Slade says parents need to make sure their children are in the house after dark.
“You see what’s happening you see the news every weekend we do not want our young people outside hanging out 11:00-12:oo-1:00, 2:00 o’clock night,” says Slade.
He says nothing positive happens late at night.
“But I do wanna say to those who are responsible for students please make sure your child is not supervised structured area once it gets dark.”
Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Dave Boysen says parents can also be more diligent about making sure their teens aren’t packing guns when they leave the house. That’s why the city has a gun amnesty program.
“In their bedroom or sitting in their here in the backpack or whatever we encourage you to turn that gun in,” says Boysen.
Boysen says some parents have already taken advantage of the program, and its participating local churches.
“There were 10 guns turned in through this program many of them were from youth so every gun we get off the street out of the hands of the kids is is is a success so hopefully we’ll get a lot more.”
Dr. Slade says he wants to see every child back in school this fall, and not lost to gun violence.
Kalamazoo has a 10 p.m. curfew for children under 12, and a midnight curfew for teens under 17, but it takes more than public safety officers to enforce it.
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