Associated Press
WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - Federal prosecutors have started a program in 32 West Virginia counties aimed at reducing gun violence in homes.
Thomas E. Johnston, the U.S. attorney for the northern district of West Virginia, announced the start of Project Safe Homes at news conferences Tuesday in Wheeling, Morgantown and Martinsburg.
The program is an initiative of the Bush administration.
Task forces in the northern district will focus on firearms and other crimes related to domestic violence. The task forces are comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, county prosecutors and state agencies.
“Aside from the tragedy of injury and death, domestic violence also causes victims and children to live their lives in fear,” Johnston said. “It destroys families and it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every time they respond to such a call.
“Domestic violence is a blight on the culture of West Virginia.”