Juvenile crime is hitting states and major cities harder than it ever has in the past. Juvenile crime has spiked all across the country where young kids are killing one another, robbing innocent people, and committing violent felonies seemingly whenever they have the opportunity.

In Florida, a recent bill was introduced that would up the penalty for a first time juvenile offender who possesses a firearm from a misdemeanor to a felony. This is absolutely a step in the right direction to addressing juvenile crime.

Children need to be punished and rehabilitated when they’re caught doing terrible things. There is no reason for a child to have an illegal weapon. And the tragic truth is that when they do have one, they have it to harm others and protect themselves from other juveniles with guns.

We need more severe punishments for juveniles who commit violent crimes to make sure they can get the help they need to end their foray into crime, rather than allow them back on the streets where they will learn nothing except to commit crime again.