Diving deep into Gun Violence

The Bill of Rights and a Gun over it

Addressing gun violence and its effects can be a sensitive subject to touch on in modern day. With Gen x having a more conservative perspective, traditional values are at place. Gen X focuses on what stands within our amendments and the rights every individual American citizen is required to have. It's always much more than just "gun control" when having to actually to see whats the causes and effects within this deadly weapon. Yet, with every aspect of the world changing and evolving, things needs to be looked at with a broader perspective.

Unfortunately, far less attention has been dedicated to the impact of gun violence on victims. In fact, most people with mental illnesses are not violent and are actually more likely to be victimized than they are to victimize others. The CWLA made an outstanding statement, claiming "more than 25% of children witnessed an act of violence in their homes, schools, or community over the past year, and more than 5% witnessed a shooting." Viewing these violent activities can cause  traumatizing flashbacks that can affect them in the long run. Much more can be done to address the problems of perpetrators with a mental illness, but that conversation itself will not address the problems associated with gun violence. Its disappointing to see that people live their day to day life worrying about making it to the next day.

When it comes to violence in general, ABT says authorities should pay more attention to the "small networks" of people responsible. According to NIJ, It was noted that in Boston, 70 percent of shootings over three decades had been traced to five percent of the city's land area. With this information one can conclude where the issues are occurring. When you study an area and learn its strengths and weaknesses, you can manage to break the cycle. These harsh environments are what bring in the rise in adolescent incrimination, because that's all they're surrounded with. As parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. we have to do our role and show them different. 

The police force is already a community on its own that works on fighting against gun violence. As residents of our own community it's important to contribute to see and be apart of this change. With a program being launched called Youth Outreach Unit, which pairs 50 officers with 50 at-risk youth. These officers mentor these kids, follow up with their teachers to make sure their grades and attendance are on track, visit their households to identify other services they need, and then work with government and community organizations to connect the kids and their families with these services. The program addresses areas outside of the typical crime-fighting message, working closely with the local Juvenile Services Department to try to catch kids before they go into the state juvenile or adult criminal justice systems. In this way, upcoming generations don't need to be influenced by such a negative environment when they're getting the opportunity to start better at a young age. 

Although, many may argue that guns are necessary in order to protect themselves. They claim that it's needed in order to protect them from any dangerous situation that comes across. Which in certain circumstances, can absolutely be true. With the rise is violence within minority groups and discrimination war, many feel as if they have no other choice but to carry one. Yet, the statistics prove otherwise. According to Brittanica, In 2010 there were 230 "justifiable homicides" that were civilians using legal guns as a form of self defense. While on the other hand, 8,275 of criminal gun homicides deaths were reported. These criminals were rarely affected back by these legalized guns, compared to the amount of lives they took not carrying a proper weapon. This point proves that if the intentions of legal guns aren't being used for self defense which is the main purpose of it, then why keep permitting civilians to obtain one?