*The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by speakers, panelists, guests, and other participants are solely their own and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Youthprise.
According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the share of murders committed with a firearm has risen by 27% in Minnesota over the past decade. Further, the Center reports that the state has experienced a 69% spike in guns being used in aggravated assaults since 2015. “Don’t Shoot: Youth Perspectives on Gun Violence, Community Accountability, and Next Steps” will center young people in a dialogue on how gun violence impacts them. Young people from the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota will discuss their thoughts on the impact of gun violence and their perspectives on how to respond effectively. The discussion will focus on three domains:
School and community violence Mass shootings Minnesota’s recent gun laws & future legislative opportunities.
We will also hear from adults working in the legislature, academia, and social justice who will provide data and context around gun violence nationally and locally. Through these conversations, our aim is to examine the problem of gun violence, prioritizing the viewpoints of young individuals. By doing so, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of this issue and also shed light on Minnesota's approach to addressing gun violence and related incidents.
We hope by amplifying the voices and experiences of youth and examining Minnesota's approach to mitigating gun violence, we can work toward fostering a safer and more inclusive community. Our youth panelists ALWAYS provide candid and insightful commentary on the real issues they’re facing, and they’re not shy about advocating for bold, innovative solutions to address them.