Young Guns: How Gun Violence is Devastating the Millennial Generation

[SecularMotion]

American children and teenagers are 4 times more likely to die by gunfire than their counterparts in Canada, 7 times more likely than young people in Israel, and 65 times more likely to be killed with a gun than children and teenagers in the United Kingdom.

Even though violent crime has steadily declined in recent years—overall violent crime declined 19 percent between 2003 and 2012, and the murder rate declined 17 percent during that period—rates of gun violence remain unacceptably high. On average, 33,000 Americans are killed with guns each year, and the burden of this violence falls disproportionately on young people: 54 percent of people murdered with guns in 2010 were under the age of 30. Young people are also disproportionately the perpetrators of gun violence, as weak gun laws offer easy access to guns in many parts of the country. Far too often, a gun not only takes the life of one young American but also contributes to ruining the life of another young person who pulls the trigger.

And while guns play a role in so many deaths of America’s youth, very few public health research dollars are spent to understand the causes of this epidemic and develop policy solutions to address it. In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, the issue of gun violence has received renewed attention in this country, and many voices are now calling for solutions to this public health crisis.

In this environment of increased focus on gun violence, Millennials’ voices are crucial. As discussed in detail below, young Americans suffer disproportionately from gun violence. Beyond the numbers, which are startling, the voices of young people must be heard and the stories told about the effect of this violence on their lives and communities.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/report/2014/02/21/84491/young-guns-how-gun-violence-is-devastating-the-millennial-generation/

[jeepnstein]

1. It's violence from the modern-day era of Prohibition.

If you take a long hard look at who the bulk of those young people who die from a gunshot wound, and who pulled the trigger, you'll see a pattern emerge. It's the Drug Trade that is creating the bulk of the bloodshed. The report the OP cites dances around that topic and would lead one to believe that if we just outlaw yet something else all will be right with the world.

[gejohnston]

2. how dishonest

average, 33,000 Americans are killed with guns each year, and the burden of this violence falls disproportionately on young people: 54 percent of people murdered with guns in 2010 were under the age of 30. Young people are also disproportionately the perpetrators of gun violence, as weak gun laws offer easy access to guns in many parts of the country. Far too often, a gun not only takes the life of one young American but also contributes to ruining the life of another young person who pulls the trigger.

Most criminals anywhere are males between 17-24. Most murder victims are often other criminals. There were fewer than 12K murders regardless of weapons, (8.5K by firearm) and gun accidents each year are in the three digits, how did they come to 33K gun deaths? The rest are suicides. Since that is only 52 percent of US suicides, they don't seem to be overly concerned about 48 percent of US suicides where a firearm was not used.

And while guns play a role in so many deaths of America’s youth, very few public health research dollars are spent to understand the causes of this epidemic and develop policy solutions to address it. In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, the issue of gun violence has received renewed attention in this country, and many voices are now calling for solutions to this public health crisis.

Because public health has no business pretending to be criminologists. Criminologists with funding from DoJ, before during and after the ban on CDC lobbying, has done and continues to do very good work in the area. Public health types funded by the CDC did shoddy work, failed peer review and was often invalidated when real scientists tried to replicate the study. In short, it was as James Wright put it, it was about as scientific as NRA propaganda.

[Electric Monk]

3. Yeah, but they're FUN, and that's reason enough. I learned that right here in DU's gungeon!

nt

[clffrdjk]

4. If you want to bring up that thread go ahead and reply to it.

You left a few questions unanswered.

[Eleanors38]

6. Hmm. Reminds me: I need some range time this wk end.

[ileus]

5. and folks want to take our ability to protect our children away...

no thanks, I'll maintain my ability to defend my family.

[Osiris Neits]

7. Freedom

http://tabbythis.com/?p=388