Talking back

Youth violence summit gives hope for dialogue

No one was pointing the finger of blame," President Clinton told reporters of the spirit that made last Monday's youth violence "summit," in Washington successful.

Clinton held the three-hour long "summit" to identify other potential factors, besides easy access to weapons, that may have contributed to the recent dramatic rise in youth violence, and to stop the finger pointing that has preoccupied various political factions in the wake of the tragic shooting in Littleton, Colo.

With 50 speakers participating in active discussion behind closed doors, the conference was highly productive. A diverse range of individual social concerns apart from gun control came from the group of secular and religious leaders, industry representatives and entertainers who attended. Among the issues cited were inappropriate use of the Internet, movies, parental guidance, domestic violence, lack of religious faith, and a culture that has grown desensitized to gruesome violence.

Thankfully, the issue of gun control was not forgotten entirely. Gun manufacturers responsibly endorsed Clinton's proposals to raise the legal age for owning a handgun from 18 to 21, require background checks of people purchasing guns at gun shows, prevent convicted juveniles from ever owning a gun, prosecute parents who allow their children to use guns and expand the government's gun tracing program. Despite the cooperation of the firearms industry, officials from the National Rifle Association were not invited to the conference.

Technically "People may kill people," not guns, but the loose laws that govern the sale and purchase of firearms make it simply too easy for children to obtain access to weapons. Guns clearly play an instrumental role in the frightening climb in youth violence around the nation, but many of the smaller elements discussed at the summit have also contributed to the recent outbreaks.

The Administration pledged a campaign against youth violence, which will include suggestions for parents, schools, communities, the media, and gun manufacturers to advise and work together constructively toward teaching and coping with children.

Pointing fingers at one or two industries will yield few positive results. Everyone is responsible for society's ingrained problems and everyone must help mend them. Only productive dialogue between the individuals who shape America's culture will be able to fix the deep cultural issues that contribute to youth violence. The leaders who clearly bear partial responsibly for the shift in the attitudes of children towards violence must take the time to seriously reevaluate how their products are received by youth. A rational discussion free of blame and emotionalism is the only effective way to address the complex factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency.

While the role of culture in the recent shooting tragedies is undeniable, but lawmakers must first act swiftly to address the most immediate issue - the availability of firearms. There are no quick fixes to society's destructive behaviors. The social ills that cause youths to act violently should continue to be addressed in the productive spirit of Clinton's youth violence summit. By maintaining the types of constructive dialogue between social and industry leaders, long term solutions will be arrived at sooner. As long as industry leaders, lawmakers and community leaders maintain an appreciation for the complexity and depth of the cultural issues that contribute to violence rather than relying on politically charged scapegoats, a comprehensive solution will be feasible.

05-17-99