Solutions To The Gun Violence Epidemic

Jasmine Dixon
Westside Academy


I’m a 17 year old Detroit Public High School Student surviving in a violent environment. Although gun violence happens most of the time, it is not the only violence I am subjected to. Within the last few months, at my school alone, we have had three students listed in critical condition from gunfire. In the United State, there were 64,319 people that died from gunfire over the last thirteen years. You should make a stand right now and show us you care. Show us that you’re ready for a change.

Guns are easily accessible. They are sometimes left unsecured in our homes, and more times than not, within arms reach in our neighborhoods. Just because the neglect or lack of responsibility does not rest solely on your shoulder, doesn’t mean you’re not contributing to the problem. Simply saying “NO” and taking even the smallest of actions can save someone’s life. People have purchased guns to feel safe and to protect their families. However, when ignorance has a stronger presence than responsibility and knowledge, not only is a false sense of security born but yet another opportunity for senseless gun violence. Let’s not make it easy for our society of young adults to succumb to peer pressure. Instead, teach us how to follow your lead, and to lead by example as well.

As a teen I know what it’s like to be under peer pressure. I know now how to say “NO” and I want to challenge my peers to say “NO” as well. Most teens are afraid of being rejected and of not having friends. But if we don’t stand against gun violence now, it will only become more difficult to make and keep friends. Just as the gun violence epidemic didn’t evolve over night, neither will a resolution. But we have to start somewhere with someone, so why not right here with you.

Facts:
-In 1996 the most recent year for which data are available, 34,040 people died from gunfire in the United State.
-Homicides involving firearms have been the leading cause of death for African American males age 15 to 19 since 1969.
-In 2005, there were only 143 justifiable homicides by private citizens using handguns in the United State.
-Each year during 1993 through 1997, an average of 1,621 murderers who had not reached their 18th birthdays took someone’s life with a gun.

Personal Responsibility: It's Up To Us

Mariama McGhee

Sophomore

UPREP High School

Hugs Not Bullets is a campaign led by young people who want to celebrate New Years Eve without hearing any gunshots. It’s important for them to have fun and hug their loved ones without having to duck every time a neighbor pulls the trigger. Unfortunately, there are people who do not think of the kids. They only think about themselves.

This campaign is also for the communities residing in metropolitan Detroit. Gun violence has affected our happy homes in more ways than one. Some adults are using guns irresponsibly, while teens are using them to solve their problems. Seeing all of this would make you think that everyone here has lost their mind. Apparently, some have while the rest are simply troubled.

There was a time when we solved problems without having to use violence and now that kind of solution no longer seems to exist. A few months ago a group of students were shot by someone who also had help from the son of a police officer. One died while the rest were wounded. Apparently there was some kind of “beef” going on and the boy decided to gun down his enemy. Even the children of heroes are hurting others.

As you can see this campaign is our bright light to the future. We want to create a world where our children can live happily. If we don’t start convincing people to lower their weapons, then there won’t be a future. I’m part of the next generation so it’s still my duty to help build everyone’s future. If you ever read this remember that there are people who care for your well being.

"Save Our City"

Ryan Anderson
Senior
UPREP High School

As a Detroit citizen, I experienced a lot of violence. I reside on the east side of Detroit where just walking to the corner store can be life threatening. It is imperative that we addrees the issue of gun violence. There has been a lot of young people killed this year over little or nothing. It seems like it's not safe to go anywhere anymore. There was even a lady killed in a church. It is for these reasons that I support the "Hugs Not Bullets" Campaign.

I have been in situations when guns have been pulled out on me and I didn't know what to do. Gun violence has been going on in Detroit for so long that it has been accepted. I feel like it's terrible that this has been accepted and is normal in Detroit. Gun violence shouldn't be accepted anywhere.

If gun violence is not addressed and stopped, the city of Detroit will just get worse. It seems like everywhere you look a young male or female is wearing a "Rest In Peace" shirt or hat. Young people are dying because it has become so normal that it has turned into fashion. A lot of the time teens are killed at events like parties. A shooting or fight is usually how a party ends and I find that terrible. I find it terrible because a party is supposed to be fun. You shouldn't have to fear for your life when you come to have a good time.

All of these issues can be stopped if gun violence or just violence is stopped in Detroit period.

Let's Find A Better Alternative To Violence

William Brown
Senior
UPREP High School

Why are people so quick to be violent towards one another? There are so many reasons why people can be violent but one of my issues is teen violence. Teens can be so quick to react to what a person says about them but we won't help one another in time of need. The main thing is that we must find a better alternative for this problem.

Since last week, two boys where fighting because they were "repping" there "block" and they had a "beef" with one another. So the two of them fought and one boy breaks the other's nose. I feel that exact moment proved that the fight didn't need to take place because they were in school and they should have been in class. So the boy with the broken nose gets his boy with a gun and come backs to the school to find out were the boy was. They find him start to argue shoot in the air, then shoot him in the leg and in the neck. The boy dies. So that issue could have been prevented from ever happening by the two young men not speaking to one another or even just walking away.

So how many people you know have a gun that is theirs or someone elses that used it or say they will use it on some one? These are some of the reasons why we must be careful, because that person can be very dangerous. It starts with the teens today and we can't have this going on.

Teens today have it hard just living their normal lives day to day, but now that can't be the case when teenagers start endangering other people's lives. I think I can find a way to keep teens from having guns and not be as violent towards one another. I have to get this message out to all those that want to make a change with me. So join the Hugs not Bullets campaign and please help make that change.

Negativity of Gun Violence

Chelsea Thomas
Sophmore
UPREP HIGH SCHOOL

Gun violence is becoming more and more popular with teens and young kids. The reason is because guns are just out there. Most young kids know where to go and buy a gun(no questions asked). People don't really care as long as they are making their money. Also, guns are just being left around as to where anybody is capable of getting to the gun.

Most shootouts or any type of gun violence are carried out by teens. You hear about adults shooting or getting shot, but it is more so the teens. I feel that the Hugs Not Bullets Campaign is good to get teens out of the habit of always going to get a gun. The campaign just needs more activities and more advertisement. If we can build up this campaign more, maybe we can get more people to listen to us.

The shooting at Henry Ford was a big deal. It's a shame that most people were not shocked by this act. It might have hurt a lot of people, but no one was really shocked. Why? The reason is because of the fact that it happened before and that really is an issue. We can't just have teens out here killing everytime they have a problem. Too many lives will be a stake if that's the case.

In conclusion, kids should be taught in better ways on how to deal with gun violence and violence period. Something has to be done about gun violence, because we are losing our people. And it's not getting any better. If it's not better now, what's going to happen later? Are we just going to continue to watch our people destroy and kill others or can we do something about this issue now?

Guns in the Hands of High School Students

Alexander Ussery

Senior

UPREP High School

Gun violence is a major issue today. This issue is a national and local issue. The national issue is that minorites are being killed at an alarming rate. The local issue is that youth in my own community are dying every day. One of the main reasons is because guns are so available.

Half of the students in high school can get a hold of a gun or have or had one already. I feel action has to take place to change this problem.

Some ideas I have are stricter gun laws. Strict gun laws will decrease the amount of people who are willing to risk jail time. Also we can do some thing about the pawn shops and gun shows selling guns with out. I think most teens end up with guns that were purchase illegaly in the first place. The reason I say this is because they would be less likely to sell the gun to them if it's registerd to them or some one they know.

I have been affected by gun violence. I have lost friends and family to senseless violence. In conclusion, I think if the guns were harder to come by the amount of people hurt or killed by them would decrease dramaticly.

Speak up and Speak Out

Kieshia Muhammad
12th grader
UPREP High School

BAM BAM, are the loud sounds that I hear at night when Ii lay to rest my head at night. While the noise disturbs me I lay and wonder how can people find any joy in shooting someone? Why do we make people feel like they have to resort to violence in order to make a point. So many people in my life have been affected by gun violence. So many that I can't help but be affected by this issue.

I have watched my brothers being carried away in police cars all because they decided to help take someone's life. My mother was a vicitim to gun violence and my father was the one who shot her because they couldn't agree to disagree. I have been a witness to my cousin crawling around begging for god to just give him another chance at life because he has been shot messing with the wrong people at the wrong time. Even though he didnt die his life will never be the same.

I think so deeply about this issue that sometimes I just cry- not because the people in my life are being hurt by this visious crime but because the issue of gun violence just doesnt seem to be getting across to the people in the world. It is as though people are afraid to press the issue. Kids my age are being killed over nonsense. Family members are being murdered just because the can't agree with one another and it's sad.

The press and the people of the world talk about what happened at Henry Ford High School. They talk about how crazy the situation was and how the people were killed over something so silly, but they fail to talk about how a 16 year old boy got a firearm without any trouble....... and how could a 16 year old boy be so angry to kill someone? Sometimes I wonder how people can be so mean and selfish. How could they kill someone not thinking about how their life affects so many others. This issue is big and it is something that needs to be stopped............. but the only way that it can happen is if we speak up and speak out-not just for your friends to hear but so that the world can hear that its time for a change and that change starts with you.