Prisoners Against Gun Violence

As a Prisoner against gun violence who has been in captivity for 18yrs. due to my engagement in gun violence I feel that it is important for me to share a few of my thoughts and ideas in an effort to be part of the solution to some of the dangers plaguing our communities. My earliest direct experience with gun violence came at the age of ten, three children growing up with a single mother and ongoing spousal issues, at first I found a butcher knife under her bed and that didn't seem odd after some of the intense arguments that I saw take place. Then a family friend moved in with her three kids. She was also a single mother, dealing with relationship issues .We became a family. Being the nosy child that I was I discovered a rifle in my mothers bedroom closet. From that point I began taking it out of the closet and opening the window and pointing it at people trying to scare them, not even being aware of whether or not it was actually loaded. As an adult I know that to be Brandishing a firearm, Assault, and several other charges that could be filed. Looking back I wonder about the trauma that I may have caused and how those people ended up living out their lives. If America was a tree gun violence (guns & violence) would be at the root, its undeniable. For many the thought is that a gun makes the insecure secure, that notion in an environment where proper education is lacking has often resulted in unnecessary losses of life. This is a complex issue and though I agree that a gun can't function absent some kind of input to fire the ammunition, we can do more to help foster the kind of critical thinking that makes using a gun to solve "problems" a lot less appealing as an option. With that said I now offer three solutions: ** We have to value life and teach the value of life beyond just our own individual life and the lives of our loved ones. When there is a sentiment of love for no other reason than the acknowledgment that there is another human being who has a life that is just as valuable as yours or anybody elses. That has to be infused into the curriculum children are taught but it will only have a widespread impact when their communities as a whole take heed and begin to do away with the kind of negative encounters that lead death and destruction. ** More adults need to step out of their comfort zone and make time to engage themselves and their families in their communities even if its done one person at a time, so as the familiarity grows then more productive interactions can be had. **Begin to utilize this untapped resource of those of us on the inside to lend our voice to mentor the youth into making better decisions in their lives and speak with the parents in regards to some of the things that they might be overlooking when it comes to trying to connect with a kid that seems to be lost to the streets. There are many in here who have put in the proper time and effort into getting a better understanding of themselves and desire to share their insight as a way to give back and strive to break the cycle of miseducation, illiteracy, dissatisfaction, violence, and incarceration . In closing, this American culture promotes the beauty of a gun, just like the beauty of a car, clothes, etc. and with those things is attached a kind of power that is so intoxicating it is pursued mindlessly. There has to be a paradigm shift in order for the aspirations for a reduction in gun violence to really take hold. I will continue to do my part and strive to be the change that I want to see in the world, especially from in here. As a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths I uphold the Righteous name : Lord Knowledge Strategic Silence Be Allah c/o Donte' Jones # 1165814 Sussex 2 State Prison

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