Causes Of Violence In America

Alexander Hamilton. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tupac Shakur. All were extremely influential in their lifetimes and all died much too early at the hand of senseless violence. In the United States alone, about 44 murders happen a day (Reference) and at least 874 people were killed in mass shootings total (Berkowitz). Though the problem is decreasing significantly from the 1990s when it was at its peak, violence continues to be one of the nation’s largest domestic issues. As this issue of violence in America is becoming more apparent and doctors, psychologists and researchers are all trying to determine if unstable childhood development, poverty and lack of opportunity, societal impact, or a combination are the causes of violence in the U.S.

Unemployment, economic downturns and instability are all products of poverty and all causes of crime. In turn, crime then leads to more poverty, thus creating one of the many cycles surrounding violence. (POVERTY). In the article “Violence in the African American Community as a Public Health Issue” it is discussed that the only way to fix the epidemic of violence in America is to take a multi-disciplinary approach which involves the unification of multiple legislatures and communities to help fix the defined and undefined poverty lines and stop violence. The author of this article mentions, “Poverty is like a disease, it gets passed on from generation to generation” (Chipman). By saying this, she expands on the idea poverty is a part of this endless cycle and the hope most people in under-developed areas should feel is likely lost because they feel as if they will never escape. She also includes piercing words which capture the reader’s attention and adds to the article. By creating a plan to help unemployment and increase income in families struck by poverty, the crime rates will go down because the outlook of these people’s lives will become

The American Journal of Public Health released an article named “Network Exposure and Homicide Victimization In An African American Community” which estimates the risk of victimization and rise in crime rates citizens of high crime rated cities are subjected to. The researchers explain that social networks, especially urban centers, expose people to the most violence. It is stated that, “Risk of homicide in urban areas is even more highly concentrated than previously thought” (Papachristos). These urban areas are the ones most recessed and underdeveloped in the country. The author of the article uses many credible facts and evidence, like the statement above, to explain the crime rates in American cities. Also, the article continues to explain that there are now identifiable sources in these urban areas which cause the most violence such as gangs and recreational activities which will make it easier in the future to eradicate and being solving the problems in the