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FOR YOUTH Get Involved
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Youth Can Help Stop Gun Violence

Did you know?

  • In 2005, 130 children and youth aged 0-19 in Illinois were killed by guns, 13% more deaths than 2004. From 1999 to 2005, 1,039 children and youth have been killed by guns in Illinois.1
     
  • From 2002 to 2006, 687 Chicago youth were killed by guns.2
     
  • In 2007, 26 Chicago public school youth were killed by guns.3
     
  • Handguns were used in 92% of the shootings where Chicago youth were killed in 2005.4
     
  • In 2007, 34% of youth ages 12-19 knew someone who has been shot and 36% feared being shot some day.5

For more facts on gun violence and youth, click here.

To download a Power Point presentation on youth and gun violence in Illinois, click here and here for the pdf.

Take Action!

There are three simple ways that you can let elected officials know that you care about gun violence and want them to pass laws that can help make your community safer.

  1. Write a letter to the editor.

    Writing a letter to the editor is a good way to express your views on current events, such as gun violence in your neighborhood. Politicians regularly read letters to the editor to check out public opinion.

    Go to Get Involved to learn how.
     
  2. Write a letter to your elected official.

    Elected officials pay close attention to the mail from their constituents regarding important issues. To let your state representative and senator know that you’re concerned about the effect of gun violence against youth, write them a letter. They will certainly read it – and remember it.

    Go to Get Involved to learn how.
     
  3. Circulate this Student Petition

    Signing a petition is an important way to make your voice heard. When elected officials are presented with a petition signed by the people who live in their district, they pay attention.
  • By passing around this petition at your school or youth group, you can send a message to elected officials that young people care about gun violence and want elected officials to pass laws that can help stop the violence.
     
  • When you have completed the petition, send it in the mail, with your contact info to:
    ICPGV
    P.O. Box 7077
    Evanston, IL 60204
     
  • The spring 2008 legislative session is underway, and elected officials are making decisions about important gun laws right now. So, the sooner we receive the petition, the better! ICPGV will follow up with you to let you know our plans for presenting the petitions to elected officials.
     
  • If you have any questions, call 773-209-1002.
     
  • Click here to print these petition instructions.
     

1 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2005.
 2 Illinois Violent Death Reporting System, “Issue Brief: Chicago Youth and Violence.” January 2008.
 3 Chicago Public Schools Office of Communications.
 4 Illinois Violent Death Reporting System, “Issue Brief: Chicago Youth and Violence.” January 2008.
 5 UCAN 8th Annual Teen Gun Survey, Fall 2007.