The Face Behind the Gun

It appears that more and more of our youth drop out of school because of fear. With the increasing availability of handguns to our children there is a rapid increase in firearm murders in our school systems. Violence is becoming more and more prevalent in our schools with only a small percentage involving those youth that join delinquent groups and gangs. More often it is the individual child who has been ridiculed, teased, and even physically bullied who become the face behind the gun.

Violence is generally taught in a circular process. It begins at home and expands through the society in which our children grow and mature. So what can we do about it now? As adults… searching for ways to help our children deal with daily stress in a non-violent manner is our best hope as a society where youth violence is on the rise.

When parents and other adults demean and strike out at each other or their child, violence is being encouraged, and our children at an early age become playground bullies. The violence grows until they can gain access to hand guns or weapons and the end result is unacceptable.

Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to redirect violent acts by our youth and their parents to resources of violence prevention programs, rather than waiting until it is out of control? By waiting we only cause increase in prison building and police force hiring. Often time’s schools are referred to, as institutions… so are prisons. Which one do you want your child to attend? The monies spent on violence prevention programs will sooner or later lessen the monies spent on increased law enforcement and punishment programs in the US.

In short, our children should be taught as early as possible the skills to cope with stressful situations in a non-violent manner. Our youth should be encouraged to problem solve, control anger, and control impulses. But to do so we first need to educate parents and care givers in the prevention strategies of violent acts. Teaching non-violent coping skills is the most critical. We all have the potential to mitigate a child’s involvement with violent behavior. Every parent, teacher, child-care provider, etc. has the ability to touch a child and contribute to the alternatives of violence.

Our children are vulnerable. The need for positive role models and exposure to positive behavior is a must. They need help to develop self-esteem, hope and belief. They also need supportive relationships, trusting bonds, and social skills. Lets give our children the ability to cope with whatever happens and give them the sense that they are in control of their life. Let’s keep our youth in school, and most of all lets keep them from becoming the face behind the gun.

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