Mass Destruction

Tiarra Studmire

Osborn Hight School/Youth Initiatives Project


GUNS, THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND LIFES ABDUCTION

CAUSING NOTHING BUT CONTROVERSY AND ERUPTION

U STILL DONT GET IT?

WELL LET ME MAKE IT WHERE U CAN UNDERSTAND

THERES NOTHING WORSE THAN A GUN AT HAND

THAN MAN WITH A GUN POINTING IT IN HIS HAND

THINK OF HOW FREE THE STREETS WOULD BE IF THE NEXT MAN WOULD JUST STOP AND THINK

THERE WOULDN'T BE AN INNOCENT BODY DROPPING EVERYTIME U TURNED AROUND OR EVERYTIME U BLINKED

EVERYDAY GUN VIOLENCE INCREASES LIKE THE INFECTION OF AIDS IN SOMEBODIES HOOD

YET THESE RAPPERS ADVERTISE SHOOTING AND KILLING EACH OTHER LIKE TAKING SOMEONES LIFE IS GRAVY OR LIKE ITS ALL GOOD

BUT TELL ME WUT WILL U DO WHEN THE TABLES ARE TURNED AND POINTING IN UR DIRECTION IS A GUN WOULD U THINK THATS FUN?

ITS TIME TO STOP IT ALL SO WILL U TAKE A STAND OR WILL U RUN?

Hugs Not Bullets

Shelton King
Duffield Middle School/Youth Initiatives Project

I think we need to stop shooting on New Year's Night. Some people get drunk and could shoot at a house of a little boy or girl. I think the shooting should stop. What if your kid was shot on New Year's Night, while you were at work? I think no one should have the right to shoot wherever they want, because someone's life could be in danger

New Tears Adding To The Struggle

Brittney King, Southeastern High School/ Youth Initiatives Project

Shut don’t go up I understand why they say. Every night on New Years awakening day, only thing there is to say; just another fool in Detroit today wanting to be heard and keep innocent individuals awake. I can’t sleep at night because of this New Year’s madness. Why can’t I just be at home with my family and feel safe? I don’t understand though who are they mad with. Maybe it’s the new years, new tears adding to the struggle. Its’ suppose to bring new age, wisdom, more understanding to overcome what troubles we perceive. New crime rate, but these folks seem to have lost fate and only add to concern. What brings this problem of gun fire, we must learn to demolish. How can it happen though? The problem doesn’t have a face to it and the not knowing children receive a negative influence following in the footsteps. I am sick of this, why wont it stop. Do they understand what goes up must come down? Now I understand why shut don’t go up.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Tamira Crowell
Columbus Middle School/Youth Initiatives Project

The reason why people shouldn’t shoot on New Year’s Eve is because if you shoot up in the air, the bullet can come down and hit somebody. Everybody knows the saying, “what goes up must come down”. I don’t think its right for little kids to be crying for their parents or sleeping on the floor. I also don’t think its right for little kids to be worrying about other relatives in their family, if they are not with them that night.

When I was little, I used to always be scared on New Year’s Eve night. Now that I’m older and not scared as much, I can see that my little sister is scared. My family and I always go to church on New Year’s Eve night. When we go in the church or leave church, we have to run to our car. I remember two years ago, we were getting ready to go to my uncle’s house on New Year’s Eve night and bullets were flying. I just thank God that the bullets didn’t hit us.

Like my mom says, “what goes up must come down”.

Instrument of Death

Destiny Taylor
Columbus Middle School/Youth Initiatives Project

Hi. My name is Destiny Taylor and I am writing on shootings occurring on New Year’s Eve. In a way, there should not be shooting on New Year’s Eve night. I know New Years Eve is a time of and for joy. But, I just can not agree with the exception of letting guns be used to celebrate it, whether it’s on New Year’s Eve or not. Guns aren’t water guns—meaning toys. There are toy like guns made for children. But, even those are replicates of the real thing. Actually, children learn that its o.k. to play with it in such a manner. When they grow up, they could already be pros at using a gun in such events as New Year’s Eve.

If it’s that important to shoot on New Year’s Eve, play laser tag. You at least get to shoot something. All wouldn’t be lost. In addition to that, no one would get hurt, unless only having the poor sportsmanship of loosing in the game of laser tag. From prior knowledge, many people are affected by guns in shameful ways. On New Years Eve, they can’t walk around their house to even grab a cookie and a glass of milk. If they had a mansion, they couldn’t even enjoy the luxury features of it. I know they would be mad. You know, a gun is an instrument too--an instrument of death. So please, help out and don’t use guns on New Years Eve night. The term “bear arms” means to protect. Use it wisely.

Stop the Shooting

Vondenise "Vonnie" Pryor

Columbus Middle School/Youth Initiatives Project

Hugs Not Bullets is a campaign that kids can get into so they will not be on the streets. YIP helps youth to be the ones to talk about what they think about shooting on New Year's Day.

We should not be shooting on New Year's Day, becuase so many people can get hurt. People drink so much that they don't know who or what they may have shot or how many they have shot. Shooting on New Year's Day is like shooting someone you love so much. New Year's can be one of the most dangerous days of the year. A gun can be dangerous in a game on New Year's Day. People shoot because they have nothing to do or just because they enjoy it.

For kids, New Year's can be dangerous. Kids can easily get shot. What if they go outside for something? What if someone comes outside with them? They can get shot too. Can you see New Year's Day as a fun day? That can happen if people just stop all the shooting.

Shooting does not have to be one of things we can do on that day. We can watch TV. We can go to church. We should really think about shooting on that day.

Should we do it? People die everyday for shooting others. Gun violence is a major killer of black kids. Let's get guns off the streets.

The Questions I Ask

V’Lecea Hunter
University Prep high School/ Youth Initiative Project


When I think about people loosing their lives from gun violence, it automatically makes me ask the question “why”? Why do people take their anger out on their peers, strangers, and enemies? Why do people consider solving a conflict that they may have with themselves or others, with a gun? Does it give you power and respect? Who will benefit from this?

No one could answer these questions with a positive answer, so I had left it a lone until my uncle was killed due to gun violence. He was killed right in front of his house and now everyone has left it alone. He was killed due to someone trying to get respect. So, because this individual couldn’t get the respect he wanted, he decided to end someone’s life and that person was my uncle. He was shot one time in his back and died instantly and once that happened all of my questions were answered.

Some people take their anger out in using a gun because they don’t know what else to do. I feel as though people kill just to make them feel good because their self esteem is low. If they have a conflict within their self they would try to torture another person to make their life easier and normally they go after the person they may have had past experiences with or someone that intimidates them. It also gives them power because they have this weapon and they can direct everything. Now, on gaining respect, they may feel as though their gaining it but actually their loosing it.

We are loosing too many innocent people and it’s time that we start stepping up to the plate to protect our people and I will be the first to say that I am at the plate. I am ready for an end because I look at my little cousin’s everyday and just think “dang, my aunt has to raise all five of these kids by herself now. I know that she can do it, but it’s nothing like having your daddy in your life”. I know that they miss him and they tell me it and the only thing I can tell them is to be strong and be there for their mother because I know how they feel about not having a father. My father wasn’t in my life and I had to stay strong and listen to my grandfather’s, brother, and male cousin’s advice. So, that’s what I want them to do.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE A STAND, SO PLEASE TAKE IT NOW!! Let's support the Hugs Not Bullets Campaign by not using firearms to celebrate the New Year.