Gun violence and youth

[MichaelHarris]

"An informal survey of local young people in urban neighborhoods found that nearly 80 percent have had family or friends wounded or killed by gun violence -- a number that the report calls "staggering."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10020/1029497-53.stm

[paulsby]

1. realizing that "urban youth"

this is a sad but not at all surprising statistic for those of us familiar with crime. crime has receded DRASTICALLY in the US recently, but it is still at unacceptable levels (contrary to what the UK home secretary once said vis a vis northern ireland, there is no "acceptable level of violence")

youth are more likely to be victims of violent crime than the middle aged or eldery (16 - 28 yrs old iirc)

men are more likely than women

blacks more likely than whites

all sad, but hardly staggering to those familiar with violence in the US

[rd_kent]

2. Yeah, and?

SO what? Its all criminal activity.

[MichaelHarris]

3. really?

even when innocent children are shot?

[rd_kent]

4. Yes, criminals sometimes shoot innocent children

[SteveM]

7. Yep (nt)

[Tejas]

11. but...but...the reporter used the word "STAGGERING".

You knuckledraggingmouthbreathingneanderthalgunloonies just don't get it. 9-18 year olds would never brag either!!1! :sarcasm:




staggering = survey author bought it hook line and sinker :rofl:

[rd_kent]

12. Staggering best describes MichaelHarris' ignorance.....

[wired]

5. I'm missing something

So why do they continue living there? My Ancestors got tired of getting shot at and conscripted during the 30 years war so they left Germany and emigrated to the US. When they got tired of getting shot at in Missouri after the Civil War they packed up and went to California. When my dad saw his home town in South Central Los Angeles turn into a gangland shithole in the late 60's he packed it up and moved somewhere his family could grow up without the endemic violence he saw moving in around him. You don't like what the neighborhood then pack it up and move elsewhere. If I lived in a neighborhood where 80% of the people knew someone getting shot I wouldnt run around trying to get everyone else to change their ways. I'd get the fuck out of there. As I understand it their lives aren't so great in the urban neighborhoods and theres no real decent jobs to speak of so why perpetuate it?

[benEzra]

6. And those neighborhoods typically have the lowest rate of lawful gun ownership in the nation...

but DO have high levels of poverty, fewer middle class families, failing educational systems, lack of access to jobs, lack of access to basic social services, extreme distrust of law enforcement, and a thriving prohibition-driven black market that offers to many youth what seems to be the only way up and out.

Nah, it couldn't have anything to do with those social factors. It must be the fault of those evil gun owners in the suburbs. :eyes:

[eqfan592]

9. Hit the nail on the head. (nt)

[slackmaster]

8. So, Pittsburgh has a problem with violent crime

What do you propose to do about it?

[PavePusher]

10. Sounds like they are playing Six Degrees of Seperation...

So what?

[gorfle]

13. Over 75% of firearm murderers have an extensive criminal background.

http://www.cardozolawreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:kates201086&catid=20:firearmsinc&Itemid=20

"MASSACHUSETTS: “Some 95% of homicide offenders . . . arraigned at least once in Massachusetts courts before they . . . . On average . . . homicide offenders had been arraigned for 9 prior offenses.22

ATLANTA: Eighty percent of 1997 Atlanta murder arrestees had previously been arrested at least once for a drug offense; and 70% had three or more prior drug arrests—in addition to all their arrests for other crimes.23

DELAWARE: Reporting on shootings, including many in which victims had only been wounded rather than killed, 80% of shooters had arrest records going all the way back to their juvenile years; 57% had been charged at least twice with drug offenses.24

NEW YORK CITY: A New York Times study of the 1,662 murders in that city over the years 2003-2005 found “ore than 90 percent of the killers had criminal records . . . .”25

ILLINOIS: Over the years 1991-2000, the great majority of murderers had prior felony records.26"

Given the gang and drug problems associated with urban areas, it is not surprising that firearm violence is high in these areas also.

[Glassunion]

14. Stoopid facts...

Keep getting in the way of their agenda. These facts don't count. When will you get that?

Can't you see that it has all been refuted by the handful of posts linking to news sites about shootings?