Introduction
The public’s awareness of gun violence has increased during the past few years. Gun control laws and preventing potential murderers, particularly those suffering from mental illnesses, from getting their hands on weapons have received much attention in the debate. However, the effects of gun crime on survivors have received much less attention. Nowadays, there are many incidents that involve gun violence and, therefore, require more attention and a necessity to enhance the protection of vulnerable groups of the public. This paper discusses the effects of gun violence on child development, given the country’s rampant shooting incidences. It also covers interventions in the state of Delaware and their ineffectiveness. Ultimately, further measures are recommended for implementation in the state of Delaware.
Effects of Gun Violence on Child Development
Nationwide, many communities are exposed to gun violence, with the most vulnerable group being children. Over 25% of children have witnessed violence in their schools, homes, or neighborhoods in the past year (Wamser-Nanney et al., 2018). Additionally, more than 5% have witnessed a shooting (Wamser-Nanney et al., 2018). As a result, chronic trauma can impair cognition, which can have a long-lasting effect on life outcomes. A large portion of this aggressiveness and violence is made worse by emotional exhaustion from exposure to violence (Hemenway & Nelson, 2020). Due to the developmental effects of their repeated exposure to trauma, people who are exposed to violence frequently struggle to recognize and manage their emotions. They frequently repress their feelings, which can manifest as anger and violence.
Individuals may acquire behavior through witnessing and imitating the acts of those around them, which might lead to these skill deficiencies. When people see harmful behaviors and accept them, they begin a cycle of violence. Eventually, they role-model these interactions for their children. Childhood mental health issues will likely increase until all forms of violence against children and adolescents are stopped (Rajan et al., 2019). Therefore, service providers must engage actively to raise public awareness of childhood mental illness.
There are many consequences of being exposed to gun violence for any person. The effects of exposure to gun violence are linked to problems with learning, emotion, health, and behavior both immediately after the event and in later years (Rajan et al., 2019). The prevention and treatment of trauma symptoms depend heavily on early intervention and social and emotional support. Each year, hundreds of children and young people are subjected to gun violence at school, at home, in their communities, or in the media (Rajan et al., 2019). Several interventions are implemented to ensure that people affected by gun violence receive much-needed care.
Needed Resources
When it comes to the resources that the victims of gun violence might require in order to progress in their recovery, it involves a holistic approach. The first resource is emotional support, which encompasses several areas. The first area involves educating the survivors of gun violence on the signs and symptoms of event-related stress (Takahashi & James, 2018). In another area, an essential part of emotional support involves treating post-traumatic stress disorder. It has been found that more frequently victims of gun violence undergo trauma-induced conditions, developing PTSD (Takahashi & James, 2018). Finally, it is vital to educate parents or guardians on how to console and support children and adolescents who have been the victims of gun violence.
The following resource that the victims will require in order to progress in their recovery involves financial support. For example, the Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program aids in covering the financial burdens that violence places on the victims and their close relatives (Takahashi & James, 2018). Victim compensation pays for crime-related expenses not covered by other agencies, including counseling, hospital attention, burial expenses, and lost earnings (Justice Center, 2018). According to the statistics, victims of gun violence spend nearly one billion dollars annually to cover their medical bills (Takahashi & James, 2018). As a result, the financial support provided to the victims can reduce the stress that is imposed on them since the costs of such traumatic experiences can be excessive.
Interventions in Delaware
In the state of Delaware, any individual is prohibited from possessing or using a firearm due to a family court order that protects victims from abuse or a protection order against lethal violence in place. In the former scenario, some considerations come with the intervention. Some conditions render the family protection order irrelevant (Davis et al., 2018). These conditions include the offender being caught trespassing on another person’s property or if the offender engaged in distressing or alarming conduct that may initiate emotional or fear distress in others. Such conditions limit the effectiveness of this intervention since it means that one can hold a firearm even though they are violent.
As for the programs available in Delaware that aim at supporting the victims of gun violence, these involve the Trauma Survivors Network’s initiatives. Among these is the Christiana Hospital support network, which strives to provide medical assistance and help to those who underwent traumatic experiences (Trauma Survivors Network, n.d.). Moreover, the given organization offers a hotline, which provides psychological help to those in need (Trauma Survivors Network, n.d.). The available resources follow the resources that were mentioned above. However, while the support services are strong in the area of mental assistance, the services lack financial assistance.
Everytown Survivor Network
Among the programs that aim to help the survivors of gun violence is the Everytown Survivor Network, established by the Everytown Support Fund. The given program aims to reduce the level of firearm violence present in the country while raising awareness and supporting the victims. Volunteers, victims, or members of the Everytown Survivor Network may receive psychological comfort and a sense of belonging through the SurvivorsConnect peer assistance program and regional and national activities (Everytown Support Fund, n.d.). The Network additionally offers access to digital psychological health therapy, trauma-informed training courses, and materials for dealing with the effects of gun violence (Everytown Support Fund, n.d.). Therefore, the fund aims to incorporate both online and offline programs to reach all victims who are desperate for help. This program is beneficial to the victim population since it offers free psychological help and community support, which is essential to the survivors who might lack financial opportunities for this.
Safe Chat
Safe Chat is another support program that was established by SafeHorizon. Volunteers from Safe Horizon are currently accessible through online conversations to provide assistance, representation, and support to anyone who has been affected by violence or any other issue (SafeHorizon, n.d.). Advocates can discuss the issue with the survivors, give advice, ask questions, and assist individuals in considering their options (SafeHorizon, n.d.). Supporters can additionally introduce victims to other Safe Horizon programs and give guidance and recommendations (SafeHorizon, n.d.). As a result, individuals who have experienced violence are able to seek financial and emotional support from experts. This might be beneficial to those who refuse to communicate with close relatives, immediate family, or friends. While this is available to communities in New York, this should additionally be accessible to those in Delaware state.
Street Outreach and Violence Interruption Programs
Community engagement personnel are taught to recognize conflicts in their neighborhood and assist in mediating disputes before they escalate into gun crime as part of the street awareness or violence disruptions model. The people at significant risk of violence regard these community engagement workers and view them as trustworthy members of the local community (Wamser-Nanney et al., 2018). Outreach workers alter social norms about the use of firearms to settle disputes by establishing their credibility, breaking cycles of violent attacks, and helping high-risk people access social services. Numerous cities, such as Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, have successfully implemented violence interruption programs like the Cure Violence model (Wamser-Nanney et al., 2018). From 2010 to 2013, homicides decreased by 18 percent in New York neighborhoods (Wamser-Nanney et al., 2018). Therefore, this program can be beneficial in Delaware when it comes to crime interventions and public protection.
Finally, after reviewing the programs outside of Delaware, it becomes evident that certain issues must be addressed. An already existing program in Delaware can, therefore, be altered in order to best suit the interests and requirements of the gun violence victims. For example, more financial assistance can be applied since not every state supports such policies. Moreover, more digital access to programs should be implemented.
Conclusion
Firearm violence has been a rampant and contentious issue in the United States. Many people have lost their lives due to this trend, while others have been negatively impacted by the same. Children in the U.S. have more often than not experienced gun violence in their neighborhoods or schools. Gun violence in schools has taken many children’s lives while negatively influencing survivors’ development. Therefore, interventions must be implemented to ensure that children are safely guarded against the negative effects of gun violence.
References
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