NEW YORK, NY May 30, 2008 —Congressman Charles Rangel and dozens of other elected officials are convening an "emergency" community meeting tonight in Harlem, to discuss the issues surrounding a recent increase in gun violence. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

The Memorial Day shooting spree in Harlem that left six teens wounded, was the climax of a holiday weekend that left 11 people dead and 27 others with gun shot wounds city wide. State Sen. Bill Perkins says the top item on tonight's agenda will be stemming the flow of illegal guns into the City.

PERKINS: We don't grow guns in our City. We don't manufacture guns in our City. But never the less they are getting into the hands of our young people.

REPORTER: Perkins says he is also concerned that there is not enough being done to engage young people before they get into trouble. The recent uptick in gun violence comes on the heels of last year's record low homicide rate which was under 500, by contrast in 2,200 murders in 1990. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.