Critical Issue: Rage, Violence and Gunfire

Critical Issue: Rage, Violence & Gunfire
Evidence issue is critical among youth


The purpose is to present evidence that the issues of rage, violence and gunfire are critical among youth. In my research, I discovered that although the youth crime rate is high, it has been decreasing. This does not mean however that juvenile crime is not a problem now or that it will not be a problem in the future.
As a matter of fact, the American Psychological Association Help Center website states, “One in 12 high schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year. If you are between the ages of 12 and 24, you face the highest risk of being the victim of violence. At the same time, statistics show that by the early 1990's the incidence of violence caused by young people reached unparalleled levels in American society. There is no single explanation for the overall rise in youth violence. Many different factors cause violent behavior. The more these factors are present in your life, the more likely you are to commit an act of violence.”[1]
In addition, the TeenViolence.com website states, “As of 1998, 10% of all schools experience some sort of violent crime (murder, rape, or sexual battery, suicide, physical attack, fight w/weapon, robbery). In 1998, one in twelve students who stayed home from school did so in fear. In 1996, gunfire killed a classroom of children every two days. In 1994, one in six students claimed they had been robbed at gunpoint/knifepoint.”[2]
As you can see, juvenile crime is definitely a problem and researchers say it will get worse before it gets better. In the article, “Right Data,” the author states, “By 2010, the Census Bureau estimates the population of males in high-crime ages will be 21.9 million. According to John DiIulio, we can expect at least 6% of these young males (1.3 million) to become high-rate offenders and account for half of all serious crimes committed by their age group.”[3]

Bibliography


APA Help Center, American Psychological Association, “Warning Signs of Teen
Violence”, Internet: available at http://www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=38, accessed 31 Oct 2004.

Rubenstein, Ed, “Right Data”, National Review, Vol. 49, 10 Feb 97.

Teen-Violence.com, Internet: available at http://www.teen-violence.com/stats.html,
accessed 31 Oct 2004.


[1] APA Help Center, American Psychological Association, “Warning Signs of Teen Violence”, Internet: available at http://www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=38, accessed 31 Oct 2004.
[2] Teen-Violence.com, Internet: available at http://www.teen-violence.com/stats.html, accessed 31 Oct 2004.
[3] Rubenstein, Ed, “Right Data”, National Review, Vol. 49, 10 Feb 97, pg. 14.