by the Men of Dominion
In a single year, 3,012 children were killed by gun violence (2002) that is one child every three hours--eight children every day--or more than 50 children per week.

American children are more at risk from firearms than any other industrialized nation. In one year, no children were killed in Japan, 19 in Great Britain, 57 in Germany, 109 in France, 153 in Canada and 5,285 in the United States (Center for Disease Control).

Firearms are the second leading cause of traumatic death related to a consumer product in the United States, and are the most frequent cause of death over all for Americans age 15 to 24.

According to a report by the Josephsen Institute of Ethics, 60% of high school and 31% of middle school boys said, "they could get a gun if they wanted to."

At least 9,976 convicted felons and other illegal buyers in the 46 states obtained guns because of inadequate records.

When examining gun violence, it is apparent that the false sense of power associated with possessing a gun has become prevalent in the Black community.

The complete and utterly senseless annihilation of a generation continues. The existent societal imbalances cannot be corrected through spontaneous irrational behavior.

That day has long sense passed and only further demonstrates instances of self-hatred.

The ability to make a definitive decision on the future of another individual should be cherished, because it is being made by someone who has earned the right through practical and/or educational experience in the workplace.

The unfortunate real power of a gun is that it demonstrates--in some cases--the lack of desire, commitment and belief in self that some have.

The inability to not allow circumstances to control your destiny. The ability to live in the real world and understand that your level of accomplishment is unlimited.

The ability to accept the fact that the sense of power you may feel when possessing a firearm may also include extreme consequences.

Whether those consequences involve injury or incarceration, they will permanently alter your life. The real power of guns in the Black community is that it does what nothing else has ever been able to do--it lessens the life expectancy of a people that have been able to survive and persevere through all types of natural disasters.

It eliminates the dreams and aspirations of people who embody greatness. It eliminates the ability to recover from your mistakes.

The second amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows the right to bear arms. But when those arms end up in the wrong hands it places the lives of innocent people in jeopardy. Truth be told, guns themselves have never hurt or killed anyone. It has always been the person or persons who have acquired them legally or illegally.

When you use a firearm to harm someone else, your sense of power is momentary, but the consequences are forever.