Is Your Child a Victim of Teen Violence?

Some of the inherited factors that have been studied are the extra Y chromosome that occasionally appears in males, various inherited learning disabilities, and certain enzyme deficiencies (Miranda). So far, behavioral scientists have found no conclusive results from all the attempts to tie juvenile violence and other criminal behavior to biology, genetics, and biochemistry (Miranda). The most that can be said is that people’s tendencies to be violent vary greatly and that these tendencies may be affected by biological causes (Miranda). There is another quite different link between the home and teen violence: drugs (Lichter). Cocaine (coke, crack, rock), amphetamines (speed, crystal, meth, crank, ecstasy, ice), and alcohol all create aggression in human behaviors (Lichter). No evidence shows that either one of these is actually the true cause of violence, so the studies on violence and biological causes and drugs are inconclusive like many others.

One major contributor to the escalation of teen violence that experts do generally agree upon is the easy availability of guns (Lichter). With so many guns currently in the hands of young people, routine fights often turn into gun battles (Lichter). Fearing for their safety, more and more teens are using guns to protect themselves in urban neighborhoods (Lichter).A growing number of the nation’s political leaders are convinced that the easy availability of handguns is the driving force behind the recent growth in teen violence (Lichter). However, this cause like many others cannot be changed through studies or research. An active approach must be made to lower the crime rates of youth and teens. Many people are able to point out the problem with teen violence, but how many are willing to help? We must find an effective approach to that helps whether it is community service, starting a youth counseling center in inner city neighborhoods, or helping a single family. Any step in the right direction help. The violence must end.