Three+Elements

Three Elements

1. **Define the concept.** Your audience may know nothing about this topic. Clearly define your topic and its importance to teenagers and their families.

Teen Health and Wellness describes gun violence as, " The use of a gun against someone in a menacing or harmful manner."

Gun violence represents an epidemic in the United States today, impacting people from all walks of life.


 * 2. **Provide statistics to communicate the scope of the issue. **Convey how many people are impacted by this topic by reporting percentages and/or raw numbers.**
 * In 2004, there were 2,312 youths between one and twenty years old that were murdered with guns.**
 * That same year 1,070 young people killed themselves with guns.**

Death by firearms is the second most common cause of death for American youth (after accidents).

People between the ages of 15 and 24 are most likely to be targeted by gun violence as opposed to other forms of violence.

Most violent gun crime, especially homicide, occurs in cities and urban communities.

Forty percent of households with children have at least one gun in the home.

A gun in the home is 43 times more likely to injure or kill a family member than an intruder.

Thirty percent of houses with guns have at least one gun that is loaded and unlocked.

3. **Offer tips for others to safeguard their well being.** What does your audience need to know about your topic to minimize their risks and maximize their physical and mental health?

Gun-related crimes occur most frequently between 9 PM and 10 PM for both minors and adults. If you live in a dangerous area, stay home at night.

If there is a gun in your home, urge the adults in your home to unload it, lock it, and store it in a safe place out of reach of children at all times.

Start a petition for stricter gun safety laws.

Stage a peaceful protest

Talk to a trusted adult if you fear somebody is going to hurt himself or herself or others.

Student presentations convey a minimum of eight relevant facts.