Gone Too Soon
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editors' views or any agency, organization, or employer. Based on my experience, research, and knowledge, my statements are in good faith and are only for informational purposes. Please research and follow up on all claims for yourself.
A six-month-old baby is dead. She was killed by a bullet in Muskegon, Michigan. I will spare you the details about what a shot might do to the flesh of an infant because just the thought is horrifying enough. This baby, who was in the beginning stages of growth and development, will not learn to walk or talk. She will not enter preschool or elementary school, or high school. She will not grow up and become an independent adult. She is gone, life snubbed out by another senseless act of gun violence. We should be ashamed.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, more than 73 children under the age of 11 have been killed by gun violence since January. The number jumps dramatically for children ages 12-17, adding 416, totaling 489 young lives lost. Last week, the Pew Research Center reported, "The number of children and teens killed by gunfire in the United States increased 50% between 2019 and 2021."Before the pandemic in 2019, "there were 1,732-gun deaths among U.S. children and teens under the age of 18 and by 2021, that figure had increased to 2,590." Five percent of those were from accidental deaths and 32%, way too many, were from suicide, and 60% of those children were murdered. We should be ashamed.
This is heartbreaking for me. I can't even imagine what these children's parents and loved ones might feel; however, I think we are growing numb to gun violence in America. According to Pew, Black children are five times as likely as White or Hispanic children to die from gunfire. There is so much gun violence in our communities; I believe it has caused us to become numb. We seem desensitized and unsympathetic when hearing someone has been murdered in our community. I realize that repeated gun violence contributes to our trauma and can cause a decrease in emotional response and detachment-- but a baby though, this is beyond crazy. We should be ashamed. I know issues surrounding gun violence in the Black community are complex and pervasive and that addressing these issues is difficult. When addressing violence, we have to take many factors into account. One critical step is that we need to address the trauma and mental health issues plaguing our communities. Trauma begets trauma and hurt people, hurt other people. Providing access to quality mental health services can help prevent violence in our community. While gun control might limit access to guns, they don't need a gun if someone wants to hurt another person. However, suppose the person has quality mental health services, access to conflict resolution and mediation, and other strategies to address some of the root causes of violence. In that case, we might be able to prevent some of these deaths.
I know addressing poverty and social and educational inequities is also essential to reducing violence in our community. We need access to jobs and job training, economic development, and quality education. Studies have shown that addressing these underlying factors can have a significant impact on reducing violence in communities.
The thought of an infant losing her life to gun violence so close to home is sobering and heart-wrenching. We need to sit in this for a minute and acknowledge the loss of life; then, we need to move.
We must do whatever we can to reduce the violence in our community. According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, individuals with a sense of hope and optimism about the future are less likely to engage in violent behavior. By promoting positive messages of hope and resilience, we can build the sense of connection and empowerment needed to overcome violence and create a more peaceful and secure future. So, while I am sad and heartbroken over the loss of this baby's life and so many others to gun violence, I have hope, and I know that if we don't become numb, we can make our communities safer.
Sophia Brewer (M.L.I.S.) is Collection Development and Serials Librarian, Grand Rapids Community College; Co-President of the Greater Grand Rapids History Council; member of the Grand Rapids Study Club and serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library, Board of Library Commissioners (Elected 2016-2021). She is a former Head of Programs, Grand Rapids Public Library and former Branch Manager, Madison Square Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library Congresswoman
Tagged in: