What do you suggest that a community can do to prevent these sorts of incidents... for instance should there be more outlets for young people rather than violence?
Should there be more community policing from members of the community?
Should parenting skills be looked at?
What do you think?
Valid questions, and I'm sorry I don't have time at the moment (all staff meeting in a few minutes) to give a fully considered response, but I do think they are worth a continuing discussion. To make a long story short I do think most violent crime stems from a basic inability of the perpetrators to view other people as people. Causes, poor parenting, bad cultural role models, etc, solutions..? definitely would require a longer time to discuss than I have at the moment.
In the UK, gun violence is increasing.
In the US it has peaked and in many of the worse places it is beginning to decline.
Why not have the British police check with the US police and see what steps they have taken to bring this about?
The fact that the communication may be only one way is hardly a reason to dismiss it out of hand.
Gun violence is declining here? I'd like to see the stats on that...
One thing I'd like to point out is that prison sentences for crimes committed with a firearm are a lot harsher than for crimes that aren't. The trial I served on was for Murder 2nd degree (a stabbing) and Attempted Murder (a shooting). Now that a verdict's been reached I can mention some details. The defendant was found guilty on both counts. No death penalty for 2nd degree, but since the attempted was committed with a firearm, he got the maximum, 50 years to life with no parole. I'd think that knowing that if you shoot someone you'd spend the rest of your life in prison would deter someone so inclined.