Caught In the Crossfire
What we must do about gun violence in communities of color

Patricia Kendrick
HUS – 135
March 2, 2014
Caught In the Crossfire

No one should have to live in fear of the constant daily threat of violence and death. It is a basic human right that every person has the opportunity to live in peace. In the past few years the world has witnessed several tragedies involving gun violence in the United States. In January 2013 twenty children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. I myself can think of five other high profile mass murders in the past few years, from store parking lots, movie theaters and school campuses, these shootings should be a wake- up call for our country. Gun violence is a vicious cycle. Gun related violence and death impacts all communities, and all walks of life. In African American, and poor communities of color it is a devastating daily occurrence. According to the “Violence Policy Center” 83 percent of black homicide victims were killed by guns, 16.3 per 100,000, compared to 2.7 for whites. Black teens are 25 times more likely to be injured by a gun than white teens. I have learned so much from this article; one thing is that when you live in a dangerous community you’re more likely to carry a concealed weapon. Also when you’re exposed to gun violence you are more likely to commit violence in the future.

Poverty and the lack of employment has driven African American Males and females to resort to selling drugs, in order to acquire the basic things they need to live. In many situations it’s no