There are a few rays of hope in the struggle to reduce violence in America. In 1995, for the first time in more than a decade, the number of children killed by guns decreased by almost 10%. And more than half the decline came from a reduction in gun murders of Black children.
But there is still cause for concern. A child dies from gunfire in America every 92 minutes-the equivalent of a classroom full of children every two days. In 1995, 154 Georgia children and teens died in firearms-related deaths.
Our high rates of violence against and by young people are no coincidence. Violence is related to many serious and too-long neglected problems, including poverty; racial intolerance; drug and alcohol abuse; violence in our homes; and violence in the media and popular culture. Deadly firearms are easily available in many communities, and many youth have too much unoccupied time outside of school hours.
But there are many ways communities can reduce youth violence and gun use in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Consider the following community planning ideas:
*Out-of-school activities. Plan activities to occupy the free time of youth. Organized activities such as 4-H and Scouts, as well as open recreation times at community centers or schools, provide positive structured options for children and teens.
*Youth leadership and job training programs. Create opportunities for young people to develop leadership abilities and learn skills that will increase their qualifications for real jobs after school and after graduation.
*Peacemaking. Teach young people peaceful conflict management techniques. Peer mediation programs in schools can help children to deal with conflict in the schools.
*Safe passage and police partnership programs. Organize a community policing network in your neighborhood. Teach young people how to help police reduce violence in the community.
*Gang diversion. Target gang members, at-risk youth, and their siblings with programs to reduce the level of violence in gangs and reduce the number of young people involved in gang activity.
*Strike One, You're In! Create a diversion program for first-time offenders. Include community-based mentoring, peer group counseling, and education options.
Keep in mind that the most effective strategies are likely to be collaborative. Involve the young people, their parents, schools, youth-service organizations, and religious communities in your planning efforts whenever possible. Together, we can reduce the problem of youth violence in our society.
Debbie Wilburn is County Agent/Family and Consumer Science Agent with the Hall (770)535-8290 and the Forsyth (770)887-2418 County Extension Service.
Tuesday
August 5th, 2025
8:13PM
