{"id":13068,"date":"2025-02-26T17:52:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T17:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/?p=13068"},"modified":"2025-02-26T17:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T17:53:08","slug":"law-enforcement-and-youth-discuss-the-ramifications-of-gun-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/law-enforcement-and-youth-discuss-the-ramifications-of-gun-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Law enforcement and youth discuss the ramifications of gun violence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Shakell James
\n<\/span>Managing Editor<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson State University\u2019s Girls Against Gun Violence, in collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts, held their Let\u2019s Talk Gun Violence event to kickstart Black History Month. The event was held in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium on Feb.7, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

The event began with the introduction of the panelists as well as a Kahoot presentation for the high school students who were present. The panel consisted of Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones, City of Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade, City of Jackson Deputy Chief Marco Johnson, and Chief of Police for Jackson State\u2019s Public Safety Eric Stanton.<\/span><\/p>\n

A conversation on guidance for the youth sparked a lively conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wade pointed out the large gun availability among teens, believing that people in local neighborhoods are easily contributing to putting the gun in the hands of some youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

This conversation led to a deep dive among the panelists on the disconnect between the youth and law enforcement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The panelists discussed the causes of the disconnect, including police brutality, social media, or watching loved loves being locked up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Janiyah Taylor, a sophomore psychology major from St. Louis, Mo., explained that the youth will get attention one way or another.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, I feel like this was a great event and we got the opinion of the youth.\u00a0 [Some youth feel that] the only way they can be seen or heard is to act out. It was a great event to bridge a gap between the police force and the African-American community to reinstate the lack of trust that the community has in the police,\u201d said Taylor.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., has recorded 111 homicides in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt means that we have 100 families here in the city of Jackson who are suffering,\u201d Wade stated in the Clarion-Ledger interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stanton emphasized that choices have consequences, whether they are good or bad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have bad family members, bad officers, and bad church members. Whatever organization there is, there\u2019s going to be good and bad,\u201d said Stanton. \u201cLook in the mirror before you judge anybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jones mentioned that those who want to form a relationship with law enforcement have to be willing to accept it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rest of the panelists then proceeded to advise those who are looking to establish a connection with law enforcement. These indicators include:<\/span><\/p>\n