Durbin: 2005 National Gun Survery Shows Teen Attitudes Toward Guns are Shifting
DURBIN: 2005 NATIONAL GUN SURVEY SHOWS TEEN ATTITUDES TOWARD GUNS ARE SHIFTING
Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and teens from UCAN joined forces to release the results of the 2005 UCAN Teen Gun Survey, a national survey of teen attitudes on gun violence.
The survey shows that nearly 50% of American teenagers "know someone who has been shot"an increase of 5% from last year's survey. Even more troubling, nearly two-thirds (65%) of African-American and 57% of Latino youth agreed with this statement.
The survey also portrays that an overwhelming majority of teens (82.7%) feel that handguns should be childproofed like medicine bottles. "If we keep kids safe from aspirin bottles, yo-yos and toasters, the least we can do is pass legislation to protect them from the most dangerous product in the United States," Senator Durbin said. "The teens gathered here today have promising futures. They deserve the opportunity to grow and learn without the threat of gun violence lurking around the next corner."
"Now more than ever, we need to listen to our young people," said Thomas C. Vanden Berk, President and Executive Director of UCAN. "Too many of them are victims. Too many of them are afraid. We need to do whatever we can to provide them with a future."
Angela Herrera (16), a youth in UCAN'S violence prevention program, agreed stating, "I shouldn't have to be scared of being shot on my way to school."
The survey also reveals the following:
# 68.2% of teens think "there are too many handguns in society"a six percent increase from last year.
# 56.2% of teens believe "the government doesn't understand the realities of gun violence"a four percent increase from last year.
# 39% of teens "fear being shot someday"a three percent increase from last year.
# 27% of teens "know more than one person who has been shot"a seven percent increase from last year.
The survey's statistics are not all bleak. It appears that the violence prevention initiatives available to youth are working. America's teens are 10% less likely (19.8%) than in 2004 (29.8%) to use a gun for protection if they had access to a handgun.
"These findings show why we must continue to make violence prevention programs a regular part of our experience - when we know better, we do better," stated Megan Greenberg (16), another youth in UCAN'S violence prevention program.
"Teens across the country are sending a clear message: take action to save kids' lives. This survey is a wake up call to our parents, teachers and public officials to create an environment in which our young people can learn and reward us by becoming productive adults. Not worry from moment to moment where the next gunshot will come from," added Vanden Berk.
The 2005 UCAN National Teen Gun Survey was created and commissioned by UCAN (Uhlich Children's Advantage Network), a multi-service agency for at-risk children and their families in Chicago, and conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited. The nationally representative sampling of teen opinion (+/- 3 percent margin of error) included more than 1,000 respondents from around America. Complete results of the teen gun survey can be viewed at www.ucanchicago.org/advocacy.
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