A team effort to keep people from having guns, who shouldn’t, is showing success.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay is warning criminals if they possess a handgun, they will be caught.

He’s also working to change Kansas laws to toughen then penalties.

Recently, police arrested Gleand Lee Brock III, 24, after allegedly fired a gun Saturday night during a family dispute in the 2300 block of Southeast Bellview. Officers took him in, not just for the shooting, but also because as a convicted felon, he wasn't supposed to have a gun.

“If the law says you can’t have a gun, there’s a reason. It’s because we don’t trust you to carry the gun and not use it to hurt people,” Kagay stressed.

He is working with the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff office to get repeat violent offenders off the streets. Brock was TPD's 17th felon in possession arrest this year. but under current state law, the offender may not go to jail.

“The state goes in to sentencing and says 'your honor, this person is a violent offender. They had a gun. They have committed violent offenses in the past. Please send this person to prison.' Even then sometimes the court will decide to give them probation.”

Kagay has lobbied the legislature to create mandatory prison sentences for the offense. Until that happens, he's turning to federal prosecutors.

“If it’s a case the U.S. Attorney’s office is willing to take, it’s one we freely hand over to them because typically their penalties are going to be at least 3-5 years in prison,” Kagay explained.

He and Topeka Police say gun owners also play a role by making their weapons less accessible.

"By leaving your gun in your car, or leaving it unsecured in your home, that’s a perfect way for a felon to walk in steal your gun and now they have access to that gun and it can be used to commit a serious crime,” said Gretchen Koenen, Public Relations Specialist for the Topeka Police Department.

Police say they have made 17 arrests this year, two more than this time last year.