[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         KIDS, GUNS, AND DEATH

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, last summer the Illinois Council 
Against Handgun Violence asked kids how their lives had been affected 
by guns and gun violence. Over 200 school-age children wrote and 
submitted essays. Last Sunday, the Chicago Sun Times printed the three 
winning essays. The expression, out of the mouths of babes, has never 
been more true than when reading the three winning essays. These three 
winners, a second-grader, a seventh-grader, and an eleventh grader, get 
what far too many of their elders do not: bullets, guns, and violent 
death should not be an increasingly routine part of these children's 
lives. I ask that the three winning essays printed in the Chicago Sun 
Times be printed in the Record.

              [From the Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 29, 1996]

                         Kids, Guns, and Death

       It is a sad fact of life: Children today are profoundly 
     aware of the threat of gun violence. Last summer, the 
     Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence asked school-
     children how this omnipresent danger touches their lives, and 
     what they thought should be done to end it. Asked to speak 
     for themselves, more than 100 children from nearly two dozen 
     schools submitted essays. It is powerful testimony. Many 
     wrote of their personal brushes with gun violence; far too 
     many told of losing family members and friends, and a few of 
     actually witnessing fatal shootings. Here are the winning 
     essays from three age categories. These young authors will 
     read their entries Oct. 5, when the 14th Annual Walk Against 
     Handgun Violence steps off from the Daley Center Plaza at 11 
     a.m.


                           Zachery Jefferson

       Last week, when I layed down to rest for the night. I 
     couldn't sleep because I heard the sound of gunshots in the 
     air. My heart just pound and pound, until I heard the lock 
     turn and the door slam. After I heard my mommy's voice. I was 
     able to sleep.
       I was worried about my mother walking to our building. I 
     live in a tall building called Stateway Gardens. My mother 
     Ms. Jefferson's work day begins in the afternoon and ends 
     late night about 12:30 midnight. I know it isn't safe for my 
     mom to walk the street in my neighborhood at night alone. She 
     has to work to take care of my sister and I.
       When I grow up I want to be a policeman, not just a 
     policeman but the Chief of Police. I want to change things. 
     It should be against the law for people to just shoot. Those 
     bad people who are shooting guns like crazy mustn't realize 
     how it feels to worry, or maybe they don't have a mother who 
     works to take care of a family.
       Well, my heart pounds and beats like a drum when I am upset 
     or worried. For those who don't know what it feels like, I'll 
     tell you. It's like losing something very special and that 
     moment when you realize it's gone, your heart races real fast 
     and sweat pops on your face and your knees shakes.
       Please stop now. If you don't, watch out for me later! I 
     will be coming with my badge on.


                              Rhea Jackson

       Guns are something very serious. Many people think that a 
     gun is the answer to solving their problems that won't go 
     away. This isn't true. There are many other ways to solve 
     your problems. People today don't care if a younger child 
     gets injured, shot, killed or even paralyzed because all that 
     really matters to them is to kill their problem that won't go 
     away.
       Today many boys are killing each other over some crazy 
     things like money, drugs, shoes, name-brand clothes and even 
     girls. That affects me a whole lot because that might be me 
     one day. Instead of the boy getting shot I might get shot in 
     his place.
       I come from a very overprotective household with a father 
     who is on me like white on rice. Sometimes I feel that he 
     needs to give me a break and let me go to a friend's house. 
     However, when I go I see people who don't have fathers they 
     can turn to and I realize why my father is like that. He 
     doesn't want me to get caught between gangs cross-firing at 
     each other. Then I begin to see how lucky I am to have him 
     around.
       I feel that it must stop because many youngsters, like 
     myself, want to live long, be able to live to see over the 
     age of 21. I think that the gangs should come to a truce and 
     live together in peace. If that doesn't work, then the police 
     should be more aware of the gang activity going on. I'm 
     saying these things because my cousin almost got in a 
     crossfire between two gangs. They don't realize that bullets 
     don't have names like they think. I think that the reason why 
     kids join gangs is because of peer pressure, for attention 
     and because they don't have anyone to turn to.
       As you can see there are many things that scare me and 
     other kids. The gangs have little kids, even kids at the age 
     of 5, planning their funerals instead of dreaming about their 
     weddings or Sweet 16 birthday parties.
       If my essay gets published in a popular magazine or 
     newspaper, please remember: ``Bullets Don't Have Names.''


                              Claudia Ruiz

       I personally experienced gun violence with the death of my 
     cousin. I grew up with him and when he died from seven bullet 
     wounds. I lost part of myself. Anyone who loves someone close 
     to them knows that the pain is incurable, except with the 
     dulling that time brings. It changes the lives of all those 
     who knew the victim because part of their life is gone and 
     there are no second chances.
       Nothing is worth dying for, especially when the decision is 
     not yours. No one has the right to make that decision for 
     anyone. The anger that accompanies the pain is also 
     destructive. Often when a gang member is killed, his brothers 
     seek revenge. This brings further violence and loss of life. 
     No one gains, and the cycle of violence keeps turning.
       The cause of gun violence is that teenagers are joining 
     gangs at an early age. Some of them join gangs because of the 
     lure of money from selling drugs. Perhaps their family is 
     poor and they need the money to support themselves and their 
     family. Selling drugs offers them an easy solution. More 
     often gang members come from families where they were 
     neglected. They are looking for somewhere to belong, 
     somewhere safe.
       I believe in each cases that the blame lies largely on the 
     parents who do not give their children the support they 
     needed while they were young. However, that is not to say 
     that the parents are not facing tremendous odds trying to 
     raise their children in an environment where gun violence and 
     gang membership is prevalent. In large families, the older 
     children are neglected as the parents are busy looking after 
     the young. Unfortunately, the older children still need their 
     guidance. Often, elder children become lonely and depressed. 
     For these reasons, they may join a gang to find friendship 
     and belonging. Although the gang may feel like their 
     salvation, their only salvation is to be able to talk to 
     their parents instead of fighting against them. These youth 
     need someone to show them that their families are where they 
     may find safety. They need counseling so that they may talk 
     about their fears and the problems in their family and on the 
     street.
       In addition, violence prevention counseling would educate 
     the youth to find other solutions to violence in resolving 
     their anger. They need someone to point them in the right 
     direction and to show them they have choices in the future if 
     they make the right decisions now. They need guidance to 
     learn how to be themselves.

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