TAKE ACTION TO STOP VIOLENCE!

In television, the daily news, and conversations--guns seize our attention and fuel our fears.

GUNS BY THE NUMBERS

  1. Every day, 15 children under the age of 19 are killed by gunfire, and many more are injured.
  2. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 19. For black males age 10 to 19, it's the leading cause of death. Most are committed with firearms -- especially handguns.
  3. An estimated 1.2 million elementary aged, latchkey children have access to guns in their homes.
  4. A child between 10 and 19 years old commits suicide with a handgun every six hours.
  5. Although the U.S. regulates the safety of countless products including teddy bears, blankets, toys, and pajamas, it does not regulate the safety of firearms.

The average hospital bill for treating a child wounded by gunfire is $14,434 -- enough to pay for a year of college.

GUNS AT HOME

  1. Teach children--from preschoolers to teenagers--that guns and other weapons hurt and kill.
  2. Show children how to settle arguments without resorting to words or actions that hurt. Parents, relatives, older brothers and sisters, teachers, and baby-sitters should set positive examples.
  3. Consider removing guns, especially handguns, from homes with children or teens.
  4. Look for ways to protect yourself other than with firearms. Invest in top grade locks, jamming devices for doors and windows, a dog, a security system. Start or join a Neighborhood Watch group. Join a self-defense class.
  5. If you choose to own firearms--handguns, rifles, or shotguns--make sure they are unloaded and securely stored. Invest in trigger locks, gun cabinets with a lock, or pistol lock boxes. Lock up ammunition separately. Remember to record serial numbers in case the gun should be stolen or lost.

GUNS AT SCHOOL

  1. Support school staff in their efforts to keep guns, knives, and other weapons out of schools.
  2. Encourage students to report any weapons they know about on school grounds to the police or school authorities.
  3. Involve youth. Young people can and do organize against handgun violence.
  4. Show students how to settle arguments without resorting to violence. Teach them to deal with conflict by calming down, identifying the problem, compromising, and asking someone else to listen to both sides.

GUNS IN THE COMMUNITY

  1. Launch a public education campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of firearms and the risks of keeping a gun in the home.
  2. Report stolen weapons and those who carry and use weapons illegally to law enforcement.
  3. Work with your Neighborhood Watch or other group to hold a forum on how guns and violence affect the community. Include police, schools, youth, local government, youth agencies, and religious organizations.
Each year, guns end the lives of thousands of young people. Their families and friends are left to cope with the loss of a life barely lived and to face a future overshadowed by violence.

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