Yasmin Shiraz

I understand that violence is not the answer. But I wonder how I’d feel if a news crew showed up on my doorstep and pointed a bunch of cameras in my face? I wonder how I’d feel. I wonder how I’d react… What would you do?

In my latest episode of Every Corner, teens talk about where they see dating violence and violence in general.  Check it out. http://www.vimeo.com/6164607

On Friday, August 7th, two days into his junior year, D’Vante Rashad Williams, 16, a basketball player with Carollton High School in Georgia, was shot accidentally at a house party. According to news reports, he was playing around with his friend, Johnta Chism, 18, when the gun that Chism had accidentally went off. When will people learn that guns and playing around don’t mix? When will people realize that gun can and will go off, guns can be loaded whether you know it or not and punishment comes when guns go off whether you want them to or not.

Its sad to think of how the lives of these two young people have been changed so unexpectedly. Rashad is already in the ground, not having even graduated from high school and his friend, Johnta, surely is ridden with guilt and because he is 18 years old, will likely face adult prison time. One shot. One shot is all it took to change these young people’s lives.

Before you pick up a gun, know about gun safety. Before you allow guns into your home, know about gun safety. Understand that a gun is not a toy. If you ever think about needing to have a gun, or wanting to play with a gun, think about how you would feel if you accidentally shot someone… and they died. Think about how one shot could change your life.