Youth Violence Speech

ANTHONY

HARRISON

The Impact of Youth Violence

Youth violence destroys quality of life and decreases the freedom, health, and prosperity of individuals, families, and communities. Unaddressed youth violence and crime negatively affect our communities' physical, mental, economic health and challenges our ability to educate, grow, and prosper.

Many people may think of school shootings when they think of youth violence, but youth violence includes many different activities. These include fights, bullying, gang violence, rape, sexual assault, and suicide. Physical, emotional and sexual effect of youth violence is a reality for many American teens, a reality many friends, siblings and parents are unaware of. According to the 2011 C.D.C. survey, 16.6 percent of high school students carried a weapon at least once. Also, 7.4 percent reported that they had been threatened or injured with a weapon.

Many different factors cause violent behavior. The more these factors are present in a teen’s life, the more likely one is able to commit an act of violence. What causes someone to punch, kick, stab or fire a gun at someone else or even themselves? There is never a simple answer to that question. But people often commit violence because of one or more of the following:

Expression. Some people use violence to release feelings of anger or frustration. They think there are no answers to their problems and turn to violence to express out of control emotions.

Manipulation. Violence is used as a way to control others or to get something they want.

Retaliation. Violence is used to retaliate against those who have hurt them, or someone they may know or care about.

According to the American Psychological Association, some signs of potential for violence may be factors like:

* A history of violent or aggressive behavior

* Having been a victim of bullying

* History of discipline problems or frequent conflicts with authority

* Early childhood abuse or neglect

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