Are Weapons Becoming as Common as Cell Phones?
Restaurants, shopping centers, cars, and airports - no place is immune from the sight and sound of teens talking on their cell phones, listening to iPods, and playing with video game systems. Such electronics seem to be part of growing up today.
Unfortunately, another reality of growing up today is the trend toward carrying weapons. As many as 18 percent of high school children in the United States admit to carrying weapons such as knives, guns, or clubs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Preliminary results of the 2007 YRBS, a survey of risky behaviors among youth in grades 9-12, suggest this trend may be increasing.
Knives are the weapon of choice among both middle school and high school students, largely because they are easier to purchase and transport. Those who carry guns generally are older, male, and often more aggressive than carriers of knives. They are more likely to be involved with alcohol and drugs. But regardless of the weapon of choice, most teens carry weapons to feel safe in an increasingly unsafe world.
While this trend doesn't necessarily mean that teens are becoming more violent, it does increase the potential for violence. Individuals who carry any form of weapon have an increased risk of being drawn into a physical fight - and the result of the fight may be death or injury.
What can parents do to help prevent teen weapon use? First, recognize that your own behavior plays a large part in how your child learns to deal with his emotions. Be a good role model by showing your teen that even though disagreements are inevitable, there are effective ways to resolve conflicts without resorting to aggressive behavior or violence. Help him learn ways to deal with his anger and emotions without losing control. Some teens may benefit from anger management or conflict resolution classes.
There are important reasons to monitor and prevent weapon use by your teen. Guns in the home increase the likelihood of violence. If you have a firearm, keep it unloaded and locked in a gun case and store ammunition in a separate location.
Help your child feel safe in school by knowing her school's weapon policy and discussing it with her. Encourage her to report any weapons she sees to a teacher or principal. Explain that despite the publicity school shootings generate, they are quite rare. And make a plan with your child about what to do if confronted with such a situation.
It's especially important to realize that teens who are involved in drug or alcohol use are more likely to use weapons and to injure someone or become injured in a fight. Early intervention for substance abuse, such as wilderness therapy or a boarding school for troubled teens, can help to stop teen violence before it results in a tragedy.
