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So far, in 2024, almost 40 guns have been found on teenagers who committed a crime. That is according to numbers shared by District Attorney Sam Bregman.His office is now working to update a law protecting kids who committed a crime, known as the Children’s Code, which according to Bregman, has not seen an update in three decades.Your neighborhood: Local news from KOAT Action 7 News”This code hasn’t been updated since the early 1990s. The code needs to catch up with the modern times that we live in. The last time it was updated was before the Apple phone was even invented,” Bregman said.He, along with other stakeholders, is now updating the Children’s Code.”There’s no consequences for juveniles when they initially first see the juvenile justice system. They steal a car, and there’s no consequence. Then, they keep escalating. And unfortunately, we’ve charged 19 juveniles already with first-degree murder,” Bregman said. “Social media has changed the word world for juveniles, and the amount of guns out there is changing the world, too, because we all know as kids we made mistakes. But you inject a firearm into that mistake, and it’s a real problem.”Some of the proposed changes include tougher penalties for juveniles charged with murder, sexual assault, DWI vehicular homicide and armed robbery with a firearm.”Those things need to be adult crimes,” Bregman said.In addition, Bregman wants teenagers who are charged with murder and turn 18 while in detention to be transferred to MDC.”Juveniles and adults should not be housed in the same facility. The law recognizes 18 years as when you are an adult. The same thing should take place in our juvenile detention centers,” Bregman said. “I don’t want juveniles that are 19 years old accused of murder in the same area as 14-year-olds who are not charged with that kind of a violent crime.”The District Attorney’s Office is also working to identify where juveniles are getting their firearms from.”We instituted basically a policy in our office that says if you’re charged with a crime as a juvenile with a gun. We are not even going to entertain plea discussions unless you tell us where the guns came from,” Bregman said.According to results from his office, so far this year, 37 juveniles shared where they purchased firearms from.Found at park: 1No disclosure (pleaded straight up): 1Online (various websites): 1Telegram: 10Friend: 7Family: 0Stolen: 6Found on street: 1Gang member: 1Trial: 1Pending: 7Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for freeResults showed almost 25% of the guns juveniles used in a crime were purchased on Telegram.”It’s an app on the dark web in which young people, juveniles are getting on and finding someone else is willing to sell them a gun. And within three hours after going on the internet, they can find someone else in Albuquerque that’s willing to sell them a gun,” Bregman said. “We as a community parents, grandparents, family members, we need to talk to our kids about what they’re doing, going on social media, about guns in general. It’s it’s a real problem.”Bregman told KOAT, his office is working alongside the Office of the Attorney General to tackle the issue of social media, kids and guns.Follow us on social: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeHe said, at the end of the day, juveniles need to be held accountable for their actions.”Officers have every right to be frustrated because they’re capturing juveniles who are stealing cars. They’re taking them to the D home , and en route, the kids are laughing, going, I know I’m going home to my parents because the D home isn’t going to take us,” Bregman said. “We have to increase the space right now, if you steal a car 30 days in a row, you’re not going to spend a single night in jail.”According to Bregman, the best way to cut down on juveniles and crime is for them to face repercussions when they break the law.”The way to do that is for them to have consequences early on when they first see the juvenile system, so that they understand that behavior is not acceptable,” Bregman said.Bregman and other stakeholders updating the Children’s Code plans on presenting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and lawmakers with the updated Children’s Code by the middle of October.