Knoxville police taking more assault weapons off the streets

Knoxville police taking more assault weapons off the streets

By SHELBY BAKER
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Knoxville police say they are coming across more high-capacity weapons.

Lt. Greg Hoskins says one find last week was particularly disturbing. 

"On December 23rd we stopped a car with four teens inside, one just 15 years old. They had a semi-automatic assault rifle. They had several handguns and magazines for those handguns," said Hoskins.

He says there have been several similar situations. "We have traffic stops and find rounds or magazines or weapons in cars where there is a group of people in the car."

In the past, he says police would find someone with a handgun that might hold 8 to 10 rounds. Now they are facing assault weapons capable of holding 100 rounds in a single magazine.

"The guys that shoot these high capacity weapons just spray them in all directions, and that is obviously an extreme danger wherever this happens," said Hoskins.

Hoskins says people who carry such weapons are a major threat to police and the public.

"These people are normally hard core criminals and they carry these weapons for the wrong reasons, in some cases personal protection," Hoskins said. "But if they get out in a neighborhood and get in an altercation, who knows who else will be hurt."