AUGUSTA – Students from across Maine will gather in Augusta on Monday to learn how they can help prevent gun violence in their schools and communities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Maine Principals’ Association are teaming up to host this youth summit at the Augusta Civic Center.

Two students and one adult representative from every high school in Maine have been selected to attend the summit, where experts will discuss everything from state and federal firearms laws to bullying and teen-dating violence.

“We are fortunate to live in a state where incidents of random gun violence and school violence (are) limited,” said U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby.

Still, Silsby said, continued education and vigorous prosecution of crimes involving guns are necessary to keep it that way.

Zero tolerance

The Nov. 29 summit is part of a national effort started in 2001 called Project Safe Neighborhoods. The goal of the project is to reduce gun violence throughout America.

Federal, state and private agencies have been called together to work toward more successful prosecution of firearms cases and to educate potential offenders on the serious consequences of illegal gun use and possession.

In Maine, a special task force has been formed to tackle these goals.

Their efforts have included hiring Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee to specialize in the prosecution of juveniles who violate gun laws, as well as adults who provide them with the guns.

Now, the group is concentrating on the education component.

The students invited to the summit are all sophomores who will be able to work with the task force and other community members for the next few years. The summit will provide them with information on state and federal gun laws related to schools, bullying, domestic violence, teen-dating violence, firearms safety and suicide.

Then they will be encouraged to continue working with McElwee on developing a successful strategy to combat gun violence in their communities.

“The purpose is to send a message throughout this state that there is a zero tolerance for gun crime and gun violence,” Silsby said.