Violence against Prince George's County Students: What can be done? (crime, home)

[justtitans]

Another Suitland High School student killed in double shooting - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

So apparently now 6th kids have been killed this school year. What if anything can be done? So sad to hear this, but what I want to know is how can they prevent or at least curb this violence?

[EdwardA]

Not much short of repressive measures which the community won't stand for and could be illegal. Maybe PG could do stop and frisk but in an overwhelmingly Black liberal county that will probably never happen.

The culture needs to change but that's easier said than done.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

Another Suitland High School student killed in double shooting - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

So apparently now 6th kids have been killed this school year. What if anything can be done? So sad to hear this, but what I want to know is how can they prevent or at least curb this violence?

There is no real solution for this issue. As sad as it may be, this has been going on in urban neighborhoods for decades. Changing the cultural mindset of teen violence is not something that has a quick fix if there is a fix at all.

[justtitans]

Videos on FOX 5 News WTTG Washington DC - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

So why do they keep harking on the fact that crime is down? Sure it's a fact, but when people send their kids out to school and don't know if they will come back alive, it becomes disturbing.

Also why are they using these things to address gun legislation? Are guns really the issue?

I just feel as though we will continue to have the same stupid conversation with no solution. The culture indeed needs to change, not gun laws. There is an obvious problem with the way young people value themselves as well as the way they value other's lives and it seems that all we do is just kick the can down the road and never address the real problems. I mean shouldn't we really be asking why someone would kill another human being over some shoes? Or at least why killing has become so acceptable amongst the youth? I'm just tired of people making tragedies like this, into political points.

[MDAllstar]

One word needs to change if you want to stop violence like this.

"poverty"


Poverty = Financial Struggle = Low Morale = Little to lose = Senseless acts of violence to gain nice things

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

Videos on FOX 5 News WTTG Washington DC - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

So why do they keep harking on the fact that crime is down? Sure it's a fact, but when people send their kids out to school and don't know if they will come back alive, it becomes disturbing.

Also why are they using these things to address gun legislation? Are guns really the issue?

I just feel as though we will continue to have the same stupid conversation with no solution. The culture indeed needs to change, not gun laws. There is an obvious problem with the way young people value themselves as well as the way they value other's lives and it seems that all we do is just kick the can down the road and never address the real problems. I mean shouldn't we really be asking why someone would kill another human being over some shoes? Or at least why killing has become so acceptable amongst the youth? I'm just tired of people making tragedies like this, into political points.

The powers that be want to desperately change the image of the county. I wish them well and I know the violence is concentrated inside the Beltway but folks looking to invest are not going to make that distinction for the most part.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by MDAllstar

One word needs to change if you want to stop violence like this.

"poverty"


Poverty = Financial Struggle = Low Morale = Little to lose = Senseless acts of violence to gain nice things

Sorry poverty does not equal moral depravity. El Paso has the highest food stamp usage of any large city and sits across the border from one of Mexico's most violent cities. Yet it was rated once again as the safest big city in the country.

[UrbanScholar]

[quote=pgtvatitans;28332079]Videos on FOX 5 News WTTG Washington DC - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG[quote]

So why do they keep harking on the fact that crime is down? Sure it's a fact, but when people send their kids out to school and don't know if they will come back alive, it becomes disturbing.

I think the main reason why is because they want to change the overall perception of the county. As disturbing as this may be, it is still an anomaly and not the norm. Most kids do come home at the end of the day.

Also why are they using these things to address gun legislation? Are guns really the issue?

Just like anything else it's political foder. You know the average person could care less about these things unless a catastrophic event occurs. That emotion is what proponents use to incite change. As your statement infers guns are not the issue, its the displacement of values and the lack of respect for others that has now become a part of society's character.

I just feel as though we will continue to have the same stupid conversation with no solution. The culture indeed needs to change, not gun laws. There is an obvious problem with the way young people value themselves as well as the way they value other's lives and it seems that all we do is just kick the can down the road and never address the real problems. I mean shouldn't we really be asking why someone would kill another human being over some shoes? Or at least why killing has become so acceptable amongst the youth? I'm just tired of people making tragedies like this, into political points.

I agree but as bad as it may be society isn't fed up enough to truly change the new norm. Until that happens this conversation will continue over and over again.

[mdfrommw7]

A few things to note.

1) I feel deeply sorry for the victims and their families.
2) There are so many variables. How does one determine a human life is worth less than a pair of shoes or boots? Why are some people willing to risk life in prison over a $100 pair of shoes (you can make that amount of money in one day at McDonald's)? What variables lead up to this?
3) Why is it everytime there is a murder in Fairfax county the media lists the specific city but if a murder happens anywhere in PG county they don't mention the city in the headline as if the media is purposely trying to make the whole county seem dangerous

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

As your statement infers guns are not the issue, its the displacement of values and the lack of respect for others that has now become a part of society's character.

I think that guns are a big issue and America is always cited as the country, a "free" society, with the most gun violence and the most prisoners. Yes, as we can all agree, a gun by itself cannot kill. But do we really think our society is psychologically stable or mature enough to use guns, which are essentially weapons, for sport? History says otherwise. Remove guns, and most assuredly you remove the opportunity to use them in a lot of situations. In urban areas, guns are used mainly by punks who are to scared to man-up and duke it out with fists or find guns as an easy way to get rid of a problem or as an outlet to anger. In addition, I'm sure there would be less robberies by those who use guns as threats to get what they want. I'd take my chances with a person with a stick, rock, or knife any day. It's called use your feet. Trust me, criminals are lazy in this country. They'd just rather point and shoot than to chase someone down for $5. There are many examples in current societies around the world where guns are scarce and the murder rates are incredibly low.