Violence is an unfortunate part of American society. Every day, children & teens die from school shootings, gang violence, domestic violence, and suicides.

According to the CDC ( [link] ), in the year 2003, 5,570 people ages 10-24 we murdered. That's roughly 15 youth per day. Sadly, 82% of these victims were killed with firearms.
The CDC also says that "In a nationwide survey of high school students, about 6% reported not going to school on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to and from school (CDC 2004)." ( [link] )
The CDC goes on to say in another article ( [link] ) that "Overall, the data provided by the 26 countries included a total of 2872 deaths among children aged less than 15 years for a period of 1 year. Homicides accounted for 1995 deaths, including 1177 (59%) in boys and 818 (41%) in girls. Of the homicides, 1464 (73%) occurred among U.S. children. The homicide rate for children in the United States was five times higher than that for children in the other 25 countries combined (2.57 per 100,000 compared with 0.51)."
5 times higher?! And we're a first-world country. Now that's alarming!
"A firearm was reported to have been involved in the deaths of 1107 children; 957 (86%) of those occurred in the United States. Of all firearm-related deaths, 55% were reported as homicides; 20%, as suicides; 22%, as unintentional; and 3%, as intention undetermined. The overall firearm-related death rate among U.S. children aged less than 15 years was nearly 12 times higher than among children in the other 25 countries combined (1.66 compared with 0.14). The firearm-related homicide rate in the United States was nearly 16 times higher than that in all of the other countries combined (0.94 compared with 0.06)." (CDC, "Rates of Homicide")

Now do you see an alarming trend?

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service says on their website that while violent street gangs were once principally found in large cities, they "now affect public safety, community image, and quality of life in communities of all sizes in urban, suburban, and rural areas. No region of the US is untouched by gangs. Gangs affect society at all levels, causing heightened fears for safety, violence, and economic costs. (2005 National Gang Threat Assessment, National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations, 2005)"
What if we could give gang members and prospective members an alternative?
The NCJRS goes on to say "In 2004, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program provided data on murder circumstances from 1999-2003...The data submitted by these agencies represent 20 percent of the U.S. population and 16 percent of the crime statistics collected by the UCR Program (Crime in the United States, 2003, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2004). In 1999, there were 580 incidents of juvenile gang killings compared to the 819 in 2003."

The Bureau of Justice Statistics states that "In 2005-06, 78 percent of schools experienced one or more violent incidents of crime, 17 percent experienced one or more serious violent incidents, 46 percent experienced one or more thefts, and 68 percent experienced another type of crime."
Is that enough to cause you alarm? No? How about this:
The BJS also states that "From July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, there were 35 school-associated violent deaths in elementary and secondary schools in the United States." Not enough to cause you alarm? Well, consider this: Any one of those 35 deaths could have discovered the cure for AIDS, or maybe one of them would have become your president some day.

[link] Chicago alone.
[link] Ever hear of Blair Holt? [link]

While it's true that the percentile has significantly decreased, it remains fact that there are still a lot of children and teens out there that are dying due to gang and gun/knife-related violence. Should we just sit back and relax now that the numbers are lower? No, we should continue doing our best to lower those numbers. After all, people are more than just statistics--they are living, breathing human beings who deserve a chance at life...right?

How could we diminish those numbers?
There are many organizations dedicated to ending youth-related violence:
CeaseFire: [link] According to their website, "The mission of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention is to: a) work with community and government partners to reduce violence in all forms; and, b) help design interventions required to better define what should be included in a community or city anti-violence plan."
*Hero-Rebellion-Club Our mission is to reach out to the lonely and the hurting and to do our best to prevent school shootings and gang violence. We hope to give youth an alternative outlet to violence.
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE): [link]
"SAVE is a student driven organization. Students learn about alternatives to violence and practice what they learn through school and community service projects."
National Suicide Hotline: [link] Toll-Free/24 hours a day/7 days a week

Shouldn't schools be a "safe haven" from all of the violence and troubles?
This problem of violence in schools and the community is not localized to our generation--it has been a problem for many generations. But that is NO excuse for the violence we allow in society, especially in America, "the country of dreams". Leaders of past generations have warned us: To secure the future, we must first secure our children's hopes and dreams. Peace at home, in school, and in the workplace is vital for children and teens' sense of safety and to secure their future.


How many more have to DIE before we realize what we're doing to our future? Are you willing to take a stand?

"Hero (Red Pill Remix)" by Superchick
[Verse:]
No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
Any kindness from you might have saved his life

[Tag:]
Heroes are made when you make a choice

[Chorus:]
You could be a hero
Heroes do what's right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero, You could join the fight
For what's right for what's right for what's right

[Verse:]
No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm, wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she is brave,
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way,
Each moment of courage her own life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made

[Tag]
[Chorus]

[Verse:]
No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's a leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine year old's life

[Chorus]

[Rap]
Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutually harassed
This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door, grabbed a four four out of his father's dressing drawer
And said I can't take life no more
And like that life can be lost
But this ain't even about that
All of us just sat back and watched it happen
Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves
How many lives would be saved, changed, rearranged
Now it's our time to pick a side
So don't keep walkin' by
Not wantin' to intervene
Cause you wanna exist and never be saved
So let's wake up and change the world
Our time is now

[Chorus]