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EDITIONS
 BreakfastMonday, 6 January, 2003, 07:40 GMT
Can we quash Britain's gun culture?
From left: Cheryl Shaw, Charlene Ellis, Sophie Ellis and Latisha Shakespear
These girls were caught in the cross-fire of a gang war
Breakfast's main story this morning is the tough new sentences which will be announced today for anyone caught carrying guns illegally.

The minimum five year jail term will be announced later today by the Home Secretary David Blunkett.

It comes as Birmingham struggles to come to terms with the murder of two teenagers, caught in the crossfire of a submachine gun on New Year's Day.

This morning on Breakfast, we asked what can be done to tackle an increasing gun culture in our inner cities.

  • At 7.20am, we heard live from Los Angeles, where they've appointed a special "Gang Czar". The Reverend Leonard Jackson runs a programme which aims to overcome gang violence by going out into the community to encourage people to work with the police.


  • At 6.10am, we talked live to Rev Daniel Bowen, about the mood in Birmingham after the New Year's Day murders


  • We also asked for your thoughts

    Further details from BBC News Online

    Changes to gun laws are due to be unveiled by Home Secretary David Blunkett as police continue hunting for the killers of two teenage girls shot dead at a party.

    A minimum five-year sentence for carrying illegal firearms is planned, Mr Blunkett will announce on Monday.

    Guns haul
    Police will welcome changes to gun laws
    Later in the week the home secretary is to host a summit on tackling gun crime, which figures due out on Thursday are expected to show has risen sharply.

    Meanwhile West Midlands Police say they are confident the murderers of the teenagers killed in Birmingham will be caught with the public's help.

    Charlene Ellis, 18, and her 17-year-old cousin Latisha Shakespear died in a hail of bullets outside a hairdressers where a party was being held in Aston on Thursday.

    Charlene's twin sister, Sophie is still under armed guard in hospital.

    Their cousin Cheryl Shaw, 17, was treated for a hand wound.

    A memorial service for the victims will be held on Monday at a church near the scene of the fatal shootings.

    Friends of the two girls who died will attend Holy Trinity Church, where on Sunday a packed congregation attended a service dedicated to the girls and signed a condolence book.

    Replica gun reforms

    The government will announce on Monday that minimum sentences for people caught carrying illegal firearms will be laid down in changes to the Criminal Justice Bill.

    The government is also considering a ban on replica guns, particularly those that could be adapted to fire live rounds, said the Home Office.

    But it refused to give details on gun crime statistics due to be revealed on Thursday.

    It is expected the figures will show a 20% increase in firearm offences in England and Wales.

    Tory criticism

    Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said his party would look closely at plans to reform gun crime sentencing.

    But he accused the government of not dealing with the causes of crime.

    He told BBC Radio 4's The Westminster Hour: "The government has done nothing to bring about a greater level of rehabilitation for young offenders such as we've seen in other countries".

    The gun crime summit at the Home Office later in the week will include police chiefs, community representatives from across the country, customs and immigration officials, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

    Friday's discussions, planned for some time, will cover topics including the rise in small arms imports from the Balkans.

    Community appeal

    The summit comes as police continue to appeal for information about Thursday's shooting.

    West Midlands Police chief constable Paul Scott-Lee said the public needed to help fill gaps in the investigation.

    Police contacts
    Canterbury Road police station: 0121 606 7881
    Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

    Officers want to hear from the 100 people who attended Thursday's party.

    Mr Scott Lee told BBC News: "I think the community's response will be positive because this is not a gangland member killing another gangland member," he said.

    He said reaction to the shooting provided an opportunity to start putting an end to guns on the UK's streets.

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  •   WATCH/LISTEN
      ON THIS STORY
      The BBC's Jonathan Beale
    "Tony Blair is considering introducing a ban on replica firearms"
      Shooting
    Rev Daniel Bowen on the mood in Birmingham
      Gun Law
    The Los Angeles experience
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