NCJ Number
188865
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This video features youth who live daily in the youth gun subculture as they talk about why youth are carrying guns, their devastating impact, how to safely resolve conflicts and cope with losing a loved one to gun violence, and how youth are taking action to get guns out of their communities.
Abstract
Introductions and commentary are provided by reporter Andrea Barrow, actor Billy Baldwin, and activist/rap artist Chuck D. Four youth talk about their choice of a life of violence perpetrated by guns and then their choice to leave it behind. Lonnie, a former Los Angeles gang member, is now confined to a wheelchair due to a gunshot. Virginia, also an ex-gang member, lost her eyesight to a gunshot wound. Robert is serving jail time and reflects on how he might have taken a different path. Victor decided to stop carrying a handgun after his cousin was murdered. The video also contains segments that portray the activities of the Los Angeles program Teens on Target, through which former gang members speak at schools about the realities of gun violence. They tell students that those who chose to carry guns and use them to express anger and deal with conflicts will live in fear and have destinies of severe gunshot injuries, a life in prison, or an early death. Also portrayed in the video is a group coping session for youth who have lost loved ones to gun violence. They discuss their feelings and the difficulty of coping with life after the violent death of a friend or relative. The video portrays some segments of improvisational theater performed by young adult. Presentation of conflict resolution and dealing with anger stimulates a discussion among audience members. Finally, reporter Andrea Barrow talks with Sarah Brady, Chair of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, who offers suggestions on how youth can act at the local and national levels to help stop the epidemic of gun violence.