Young men and firearms: Local and federal officials work to address growing gun violence

Paul Hamby

A handgun modified for automatic fire. A rifle sawed-off to the size of a handgun. A 20-round magazine-fed shotgun.

These were a fraction of the guns on display in the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse in Billings on Wednesday, all of them seized in connection to crimes committed in and around Billings. Local and federal law enforcement motioned to the table full of guns several times in discussing how to address gun violence in the area.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Jesse Laslovich speaks during at a press conference with the District of Montana U.S. Attorney’s Office to address gun violence in Billings.

AMY LYNN NELSON, Billings Gazette

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana has seen a record number of convictions for firearms offences in recent years. Federal prosecutors oversaw 153 convictions in 2022 and 157 in 2021, according to data from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito speaks during at a press conference with

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