Argumentative Essay On Teen Violence

Assessing potentially violent students is one thing, but determining what is causing these high-risk teens to act out is another. Numerous reasons have been suggested as to why teenagers kill. One possibility could be the media. This includes music, movies, books and video games. Social science research conducted over the past 40 years supports the conclusion that viewing violent television programming has negative consequences for children, and the research suggests three factors in which watching violent television programs can impact young viewers. (Aidman, 1997) These factors say that media violence can encourage children to learn aggressive behavior and attitudes, media violence can cultivate fearful or pessimistic attitudes in children about the non- television world, and media violence can desensitize children to real-world and fantasy violence. One very controversial music artist made headlines when the Columbine massacre occurred. From day one,

On an unseasonably cold March morning in 1993, high school sophomore Edward Gillom exited his first period classroom and made his way through the crowded hallways of Harlem High School. After engaging in a heated argument, allegedly over a girl, with Ronricas “Pony” Gibson and Ricoh Lee, Gillom pulled out a .38-caliber gun and opened fire. Gillom’s shots fatally wounded Gibson and left Lee with a non-fatal gunshot wound to the neck (Washington Ceasefire, 2011 pg 1). The shooting in Harlem, Georgia sparked national attention as one of the first high school shootings and added to the alarmingly high rates of gun violence by adolescents during the 1990s. According to the Virginia Youth Violence Project, forty-two homicides took place in

Researchers have found that adolescent murders tend to be not only violent, but extremely violent. One teen murderer stabbed his victim forty-six times (Kreiner 41). Josh McDowell, in his book Right from Wrong says, “Today’s youth are not playing loud music and wearing radical hairstyles; they have graduated, it seems, to a level of adolescent aggression, promiscuity, cynicism, and violence that bristles the hair on parents’ necks” (McDowell 6). The most significant change in the youth has been in their attitudes. The new generation is more inclined to resort to violence over trivial issues or for no apparent reason. Violent juvenile crime is now a national epidemic and is predicted to get worse. The group most associated with juvenile violence in America is males aged fifteen to nineteen. Statistics show that this segment of the male population will increase by 30 percent by the year 2020 (Grapes

If teens are regularly exposed to violence within their neighborhoods, then they will strive to pick up these violent habits that their neighborhood practices. Not only do they witness violence, but eventually they will become violent teens themselves because of those who encourage them. The individuals who these teens usually associate with, may pressure them into making remorseful decisions throughout their teen years. Some of these teens who commit violent actions also have an ease of access to weapons and illegal drugs. The Sentencing Project concluded that teen violence was beginning to soar during the 1990’s was because of “emerging crack cocaine markers and easy access to illegal guns” (Nellis 5). Drugs and alcohol evidently may have an effect on the decisions that someone may make, especially regretting decisions. A teen’s neighborhood and influences have an immense impact on the violent acts that these teens

these murderous teens had a history of being bullied and a history of acting out that resulted in arrest. Over half these adolescents had a history of drug abuse. Further, theses teens surveyed in the study all used guns, with the most common being a 12 gauge shotgun and had mentioned killing or harming peers before. Finally, almost all of these mass murders took place at schools with a few exceptions (Meloy et al., 2001).

Many young teens in the United States are classified as at risk youth. At risk youth is those who are most at risk for engaging in risky activities. According to Girod, Martineau, and Zhao, “Nations teens have garnered much recent attention because of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, dropout rates, suicide, and gang activity most of our most prized commodity is in jeopardy” (Girod, M., Martineau, J., Zhao., 2004). These teens are most at risk because they are exposed to this behavior within their community. When teenagers are exposed at such a young age, they are more likely to engage in this behavior. Research shows that teens are having struggles in a culture that is designed to inspire risk taking and violence (Girod, M., et al, 2004). This shows that most teens are being raised in a culture in which these types of activities are common. In order to prevent this violence and risk taking from taking place, communities have to come together to help keep their youth safe.

One way of measuring youth violence, is to keep statistics and rates on serious violent crimes committed by juveniles. The research is mainly focused on the causes of juvenile delinquency and which programs have successfully made smaller or eliminated crime rates among the youth population. About 1% of all murders nationally, are mass killings. The FBI counted 172 cases of mass killings between 2006 and 2013. What seems to still mystify the professionals is trying to figure out the circumstances of those killings, the people who commit them, and the weapons they use and the forces that motivate them. Perhaps by keeping statistics on youth crimes, behavior motivations, family structures and preventive programs, will allow us to limit the

Since the beginning of the United States of America, citizens have been concerned with having their voices heard in government. To protect the rights of the people the United States Constitution was amended to guarantee that “Congress shall make no law . . . prohibiting . . . the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”(U.S. Const. amend. I). But, in recent years, the American people have abused their right to protest, relying on violence to obtain attention, and in doing so discrediting their own causes. The people of America must restrain themselves from using violence to make changes to society.

Two known risk factors are socio-economic status and race, but there are several more like access to weapons, number of youth activities, attitudes towards substance abuse, and family life. Most youth in disadvantaged areas are from single parent homes which results in a lack of supervision, vulnerability, and participation in violence. Youth living in these areas are exposed to violence with little opportunity of seeing positive figures and relationships. Their lack of role models is what leads most youth to staying in the same community becoming a statistic. It is sad that the knowledge of these risk factors has not lead to a greater decrease of community violence, but hopefully we will continue to see a change. Not only are risk factors important to know so are protective factors. The children that are being exposed to these risk factors have developed a sense of resilience. Researchers have labeled these factors developmental assets. There is not solid research that explains the effects of community violence and actions that can prevent it. There is evidence that shows how children who witness community violence cope, adapt, and develop afterwards depending on their social and family surroundings. Community, family, and peer support is a vital part of coping after exposure to violence. Children with this support system can alleviate some of the lasting effects of repeated community

Throughout the decade, violence in high schools and colleges has been dramatically increasing and taking a toll on society. The Columbine High School Massacre in Colorado, the sixteen year old boy beaten to death in Chicago, the Virginia Tech rampage, and the death of Yale student Annie Le should encourage government officials to discover a precise solution to cease this type of violent behavior.

Adolescence are exposed to several media outlets which may fuel their aggression. Lyrics of a song, television, websites, and gaming are the main sources of entertainment for these young people. Although, they are all considered entertainment, these outlets can be dangerous for our young people’s minds. There have been studies done on these youth primarily from age 14 to 17 due to the rise in violence from people in this age range. This age is difficult to manage, with peer pressure and hormones these kids are very vulnerable. Instead of being outside and doing the activities kids were engaged in before the age of cell phones and internet, these kids are held up in their home feeding their minds with all types of violent media. Teen violence is a problem in America, as well as around the world. While this may be a debated issue, it is very clear to most ordinary people that there is a relation between media and aggressive behavior. “Teen violence erupts in a number of ways. It can be directed at inanimate objects, at other people, at animals, or at the

There have been studies that have found that support from family, friends or peers to the victim or witness of violence does not seem to protect against the effects of violence exposure on the outcomes of mental health. An important aspect of the lives of adolescents are their peers. A peer is a person that is around the same age group or social group as another. Adolescents are more likely to conform to their peers when they have an uncertainty about their social identity. The cliques and crowds that adolescents form are important to them for the social aspect. It may be a great advantage for an adolescent that has been exposed to high levels of violence to seek support from peers or adults in the school. Help seeking increases the accessibility to emotional support

A middle aged business man holding a leather briefcase, dressed in a sleek black tailored suit, wearing a gold watch that clasps on his wrist, walks into a gas station located in the run down part of town holding a leather briefcase. After entering and paying the cashier for the gas he is about to put into his newest edition sports car, another man walks in with a gun. The robber demands the business man’s watch and all the money in his wallet. After the businessman safely makes it to the police station, he begins calling his family and friends to share the incident. His audience only responds with the usual responds to a crime, “Oh my goodness, how tragic” or “They need to catch the robber so he can spend time in jail.” Not once did they question what he was wearing or blame it on his expensive attire. Not once did they ask if he said anything to lead the robber to make him think it was okay or if he was telling the truth. In this situation the victim is not being blamed for the incident, but today in many sexual assault cases society has tried to turn the blame from the attacker to the victim.

It’s an unsettling word that nobody likes. It’s a killer, a liar, and a cheater. Violence for many is the force intended to seriously injure or kill someone or something. It has become a widely-acknowledged action and is constantly surfacing. From the constant street crime or the general domestic abuse, it’s crawled into our society as a known aspect in multiple parts of the world, with the United States not looking too well. Football has recently been revealed to be more tainted with violence than expected due to the abuse of the players’ on their position and their obvious lack of morality. No matter how minor, violence is still violence and should result in consequences for the players involved. A Change.org petition, started by Darius Adams, portrays his mother’s heartbreaking story of her own personal experience, detailing what occurred and who was involved, and also what the outcome was. By reason of the petition, the great amount of guilty players, and the denial of justice to the victims, the NCAA should ban all athletes, no matter what stature, who have been found guilty of any type of violence from participating in any sporting or participating event

Violence in school systems has existed for a long period of time. School violence consists of fights, vandalism, shootings, rape, and any act that physically or psychologically harms another child. Any of these acts should be taken serious, even among kindergarten kids. Recently the level of crime in schools has risen. Through the past five years America has been horrified by the images of children killing other children. Few years back Sandy Hook took place seniors opened fire on their classmates. Remaining today is one question about the violence in schools. What makes students kill students? What makes a male student rape is female student? There are four main causes for this violence; media, home environment, school systems, and bullying. What makes the student violence is it the way they raised or the society around them?