Many survivors of gun violence and individuals concerned about the gun problem in their local region help to spearhead the efforts of state groups. Communities like Boston, Massachusetts are implementing effective strategies to better respond to youth violence. With the number of youth murders down dramatically in recent years, a comprehensive strategy that balances prevention initiatives with law enforcement is being credited for the decrease in Boston's youth homicide rates. No single effort can take full responsibility for this success. Rather it has been a combination of efforts by police officers, educators, religious leaders, gun violence prevention advocates, business persons, health care professionals, teenagers, parents, human service coordinators and youth workers uniting to decrease violence.
Communities joining together do make a difference.
Historically, gun violence has been perceived as a criminal justice issue, and when crimes are committed the tendency has been to rely on law enforcement officers for explanations of increases and decreases in violence. Since the early 1980's, however, there has been a growing school of thought which believes public health techniques and prevention efforts must be applied in order to adequately address the problem of gun violence. Spearheaded by groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Harvard School of Public Health in the 1980's, a flood of public health officials, medical associations, hospitals, and universities are increasingly responding to this public health crisis in the 1990's. As citizen concern about violence grew in the 1980's, so too has the public outcry for more responsible gun legislation and regulation. In recent years, there has been a spate of sensible gun laws introduced and implemented on local, state and national levels.