As a nation, the United States continues to lose its future as its youth are needlessly both victims and often the perpetrators of homicides. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 13 young people aged 10 to 24 are victims of homicide each day. This is a statistic we cannot ignore.
Increasingly, U.S. youth are exposed to violence on a daily basis—including through the rising number of mass shootings such as the horrific event that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. As we explore ways to prevent the horrific active shooter incidents that have occurred in Aurora, Colorado; Oak Creek, Wisconsin; and Newtown, we must also look at ways to mitigate the day-to -day violence in our communities through adequate state and local law enforcement resources, tougher laws, and strengthened programs.
