By Bobby MurrayTeen violence is a big and growing crisis in our world today. Every day we hear on the news of teenagers involved in violent crimes. Part of the reason is that weapons are becoming more accessible. You can go into a ninety-nine cent store and buy a knife without any questions.
Teen violence is something we must work to stop. Teens have become subject to desperation and peer pressure driving them toward violence. One reason that we are seeing more and more teen violence is because gangs are beginning to recruit their members younger and younger. Gangs are now recruiting from jr. high schools rather than recruiting from high schools. The initiations into these gangs are also becoming more violent.
This leads to teens being involved in their first stabbing or shooting as young as the age of thirteen. Like a chain reaction kids that you wouldn’t expect to join a gang are joining for protection from the gangs themselves.
The reason that the media covers stories on teen violence is because of media ratings which, they know people find stories on teen violence a lot more interesting than stories on mere adult violence. Another reason is that there has been a large influx of violent crimes committed by teenagers so the stories are more plentiful.
A very important and probably the most truthful is that the media is trying to send a message to people and confronting us on the issue of teen violence so that we do something about it and help the teens in need.
Teen violence to be is hard on any community and we must find ways to decrease. Also, government should help teens in situations where violence is necessary to survive as best as possible.
I hope that when my children are in school this type of essay will only be written in their history classes. It is up to the adults of this generation to stop the teen violence and the next generations
Bobby J. Murray II is a 10th grader at Sexton High School. He was chosen by The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCP CAN) to represent the Pioneer Civitan of Lansing at the 2012 Youth Leadership & Diversity Conference. The 43rd Annual Youth Leadership & Diversity Conference is a Civitan youth seminar project that will be held on July 9 – July 14, 2012 at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
According to the website, The conference is an opportunity for high school students to experience a leadership program that is unique. For one week during the summer delegates gather on Hillsdale College’s campus and become actively involved in a variety of exercises that will enhance their knowledge of who they are and where they fit into the complexities of an ever-changing society.
This was printed in the June 3, 2012 – June 16, 2012 Edition
