Cutting flow of guns to region's youth

Gun-control and gun rights activists have sharp differences. But they should be able to agree on this: keeping firearms out of the hands of young men who use them to kill.

The difficulty of that challenge was chronicled last week in The Virginian-Pilot, in the latest in a series of articles about violence against teenagers and young men. The challenge is great; the response must be, too.

Amy Jeter and Kristin Davis reported that obtaining guns, especially handguns, is nearly as easy as buying a loaf of bread, a pair of gym shoes or the latest CD. Teens buy them from friends and strangers, swap them for other guns, or use "community" guns stashed behind bushes and underneath houses. Residents in a neighborhood always seem to know somebody else who has a 9mm, .40-caliber or other handgun for sale. Some are loaned.

Other firearms are simply stolen: State Police report that thieves took $3 million worth of guns in Virginia in 2008. They can be difficult to trace.

Access is one thing. The willingness to use them in crimes and in confrontations makes them worse.

Teens get into beefs with acquaintances, enemies or rival gang members. In the past, incidents may have ended in a fistfight; now, they end in gunshots. The carnage is striking: deaths of athletes, young partygoers, deliverymen, people involved in fender benders. The shooters, if convicted, often face lengthy prison sentences.

And much too often in South Hampton Roads, the victims and their killers are young black men.

How, then, to fight back?

Police, of course, must arrest those wielding and firing guns. Prosecutors must bring people to trial. Judges and jurors must weigh the evidence.

It can't be limited to the legal system, however. In so many respects, whether young people seek out guns depends on who's watching over them, who's interacting with them, and whether they feel they have a future.

Parents must be involved in their children's lives. Adults, especially men, must be mentors to youths who need them. Churches, schools, community organizations and local governments have to provide outreach and activities.

Many groups and individuals have stepped up over the past 18 months, providing leadership and alternatives. They include the Rev. Jake Manley of Bethany Baptist Church in Chesapeake, who's hosted anti-violence community meetings and sponsored neighborhood service programs. The city of Norfolk held an anti-gang address at Ruffner Academy in June, featuring the police chief, schools superintendent and sheriff. Other individuals have sponsored job fairs or community events aimed at young people.

If we can target young people this way, they might not be the targets of those holding a gun.