Gun culture on the rise

August 24, 2007, 11:04 AM

Im sure people have heard about gun cultures latest victim. If not, then please read on:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Guardian

The mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, the boy who was shot and killed in Liverpool last night, tonight begged for help to catch his killers.

Melanie Jones, 41, broke down in tears as she spoke of her son, "her baby", and asked the public for help.

Mrs Jones said: "Our son was only 11, our baby. This should not happen, this should not be going on. Please help us.
"I just want them caught. We would just like to put an appeal out. Please, someone, somewhere must know who has done this. It's got to be someone on the estate. Please come forward."

The 11-year-old died after being shot in the neck as he played football with friends outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth around 7.30pm.
Rhys spent his last moments cradled in his mother's arms, a family friend said today.

Tony Edge said Rhys's mother Melanie raced to the scene where she held him until the ambulance arrived. Paramedics battled to save his life but he was pronounced dead later at Alder Hey hospital.

Mr Edge, 40, a children's football coach, told how he broke the devastating news of the shooting to Rhys's mother and then drove her to the "horrific" scene of the shooting.

"She went to him, knelt down, held him and spoke to him," he said. "I don't know what she was saying to him because I walked away from it."
Mr Edge said there was an issue between two gangs in Croxteth but he claimed Rhys had absolutely nothing to do with them.
"Rhys and his friends even stayed away from local teenagers because they scared them. He has been in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Witnesses said was hit in the neck after three shots were fired by a teenage boy who rode past on a BMX bike, his face obscured by a hood.
Earlier today Merseyside police arrested two teenage boys on suspicion of murdering Rhys. The two suspects, aged 14 and 18, have since been released on police bail.

The prime minister, Gordon Brown, pledged that those responsible for the murder would be tracked down. Mr Brown said the murder was a "heinous crime that shocked the whole of the country", and extended his sympathy to the boy's family.

This has gotten more then out of hand. This was an innocent child whose life was snatched away by someone clearly impressed by gun culture. The killer is whitre, 13-15 and was wearing a hood over his face when he shot Rhys and was on a BMX bike.

People are saying its down to the parents to keep their kids under control and maybe gun culture will decrease. But many believe this wont work. British chidlren are listening to gangster rap and the media see these artists as the ones to blame.
What can we do to stop this madness?

August 24, 2007, 11:21 AM

Yes I've heard about this and I agree that gun crime is getting out of hand. Where are kids getting these weapons from? Does the gun dealer know what the kids will be doing? This must be pure torture for the child's family and the killer needs to be caught but something needs to be done in the long run. Young people also need to stop listening to gangster rap as they are being influenced to be violent,do drugs and the like.
The person who comited this crime obvosly had been influenced by something or maybe their parents just hadn't brought them up properly.

August 28, 2007, 8:51 AM

Ugh, that is so terrible. It IS getting out of hand. Not only is the victim a child, the KILLER is a child.

I think that the parents DO need to step up and become more involved in their childrens' lives. This probably won't completely stamp out the whole gun culture, but I think it'll help. I think the whole "the media and rap stars are to blame" explanation is bullshit. I've listened to violent songs; that doesn't mean I run out, purchase a gun, and shoot someone. As a child, I was taught wrong from right by my parents, and I know that while it's fun to play a shooter game, real life gun violence is wrong and just senseless. These kids who do drugs and think gun violence is awesome obviously have something lacking in their lives. I think that their parents should be more involved in their lives and maybe teach them some damn morals. Also, maybe stricter gun control would help a bit? Obviously guns would still be available via black market...but they would be a hell of a lot more expensive, and thus less accessible to kids.