Commentary: Too many guns!

In an opinion piece on Caribbean News Now Caribbean feminist Felicia Brown lays out succinctly the dire situation regionall, with regards to gun violence and males. That article is reposted in the following.

By Felicia Browne

Young males are increasingly becoming victims of gun- and gang-related violence. Out of 28 homicides in Saint Lucia for the year, 95% were males. This is critically alarming as males are becoming more vulnerable and susceptible to violent crimes within their communities. There is an urgent need to enact effective gun policies and community interventions that will work as deterrents against gun violence and access to illegal guns.

Felicia Brown.

             

Felicia Browne is a feminist philosopher at the University of the West Indies and human rights and peace ambassador for the region

I appeal to civil society and youth organisations to focus their community projects on alleviating gun violence and gang activity amongst the youth. The youth are asserting their powers through activities that are detrimental to their well-being. Many of them are seeking guidance from the wrong individuals. Some of these young men and women believe that gangs are the only solutions to their problems. We must be able to craft alternatives.

We as a society need to begin to face our realities and acknowledge that we have a problem with illegal guns on our streets. How can teenagers be caught with high-powered guns? Who is providing them with these deadly devices? As the gun violence increases, citizens, in particular young males, are fearful that their lives are at risk.

Gun violence is a human rights issue and government must do everything within its power to address this problem. Too many young people are dying while we fail to provide them with the tools for success. Too many of our young men are dying because we fail to provide opportunities that will obviate the need to become members of violent gangs. Our government needs to explore how we can decrease the level of gang recruitment of young people and punish individuals who are known to recruit young children in gang-related activities.

Young men and women should be given opportunities to grow within their fullest potential through educational and entrepreneurship training. How can we expect young people to be motivated about life if there are no avenues for the enhancement of their future? Our young people need to able to trust their policy makers and believe that their lives will not be cut short by the errors and omissions of those in charge. They must be given equal opportunities to work and plan for their future without the fear of violence.

We need to act and avoid the constant political rhetoric that has continued to fail our youth, including our young males.