Who wasn't outraged last week by the senseless beating of a Florida teenage girl by six other teenage girls? Or disgusted by the West Texas polygamist compound mistreatment of young girls? And dismayed by the Baltimore teacher who was knocked to the ground and beaten by her student, as a fellow classmate video taped the beating on her cell phone while others cheered?

Just as I was turning away (again) in disgust from America's awry juvenile daily news, I found myself a constituent of it, when two New Jersey teens were arrested after a teacher found a "hit list" that contained my name.

When I first read the report, my first instinct was to say nothing. I didn't want to risk exacerbating the situation more than it already was. As the story spread nationally then internationally, however, I quickly realized silence was not the best course of action. These types of behaviors are exactly the warning signs we have trivialized or ignored for far too long, emanating from a growing at-risk population of young people in this country. The Columbine High School shooting is a prime example of at-risk youth making a statement in a devastating way.

The Savannah Morning News noted that, "A 2007 analysis by the state Department of Public Safety showed a 171 percent increase in the arrests of juveniles for violent crimes since 1976, along with a 104 percent increase for robberies and 224 percent for aggravated assault." And we all know too well about school shootings – I've counted at least 14 different murderous gun sprees at colleges or universities just since 2000, resulting in at least 60 fatalities and dozens more wounded. These stats speak of the grizzly fact that there are 32 people killed every 32 minutes in America.

Why are school teachers recipients of rampant disrespect?

I remember when I was in high school in the 1950s – racial injustice and gangs were present even then. However, I could never have imagined the moral and civil anarchy among our youth today, as they garnish themselves with weapons and so vehemently assault peers and adults like the Baltimore teacher. Why is this happening? Because the youth know they can get away with it, or they just don't care! We are a society of permissiveness and apathy.

The youth know a teacher has no real authority over them and no support from their administration. If a teacher tries to instill discipline in the classroom, it is disregarded by the students because they know the teacher cannot enforce it. Again, a great example is the teacher in Baltimore, who tried to get the student to sit down in class. And what happened when she did? She was beaten up! Until students know they cannot get away with this kind of behavior, classrooms will continue to grow more out of control.

I don't think it is a coincidence that this week (April 13-19) is National Crime Victims' Rights Week, or NCVRW, a program established in 1981 by President Ronald Regan to support victims of violent crimes. Despite nearly three decades of crime growth among youth, I applaud the president's recent efforts to highlight the NCVRW and diminish brutal behavior in society. He said in his proclamation, "Through the Justice for All Act of 2004, we expanded DNA testing and enhanced the scope and enforceability of crime victims' rights. In 2006, I signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to expand the National Sex Offender Registry, increase federal penalties for crimes against children, and protect our children while on the Internet."

Giving honor to whom honor is due

Why do we criticize government and branches of law enforcement when they do wrong, but do not honor them when they do right? That is why I also commend the actions of individuals and community groups across America, which are also commemorating the NCVRW via augmented awareness and activism.

For example, to promote community understanding and reach out to violent crime victims and survivors in the metro Detroit, Mich., area, The Children's Center of Wayne County is hosting "Justice for Victims, Justice for All ... Letting You Know We Care."

At the Church on the Rock in Pascagoula, Miss., citizens will remember victims through its fourth candlelight vigil and bring awareness to victims' plights and rights. And in Meridian, Miss., students at Southeast Middle School are selling stickers in support of crime victims, the proceeds of which will go to the East Mississippi Child Advocacy Center as the Wesley House.

In Sonoma, Calif., residents will not only honor those lost to violence, but remember the survivor victims "who have triumphed over trauma and pain."

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In Louisiana, local law enforcement, victims' rights advocates and crime victims themselves will join Sheriff Steve Prator to march together to Government Plaza for a Victims' Information Fair.

And in my own state of Texas, a special toll-free hotline (1.800.622.2520) is being provided for information and referrals for low-income victims of violent crimes who need legal help.

Most of all, I salute all those law-abiding citizens across the land – peace officers, emergency relief personnel, counselors, crises management and countless help groups, agencies and non-profits – all of whom care for violent crime victims and rally to reduce the increasing tides of illegal conduct and misguided behavior across our nation.

Personal responsibility

Like with most social ills, however, the key to crime reduction is not more government spending and involvement. When will we learn "they" are not the answer? We are!

Individuals, community groups, schools, churches and local law enforcement must come together to strategize and communicate, educate community residents about victims' rights, make plans to offer victims assistance (via intervention, food closets, temporary shelter, mental health counseling, legal help and other emergency services), track violent offenders, maintain a watch over the sex offender registry, elevate children and family violence violations, ensure additional necessary securities and network through the Internet with other help agencies.

In today's world, each American must also be vigilant against crime. We must have a zero tolerance for our volatility to violence. We must be equally willing to reach out to those lost souls who feel marginalized and disenfranchised by the world around them, including those New Jersey students who included me on a hit list. My hope is that, should there be substance to these charges, we will not distance ourselves from these young men, but embrace them and give them the help they need to get on the right path.

Stop complaining and start doing

Investing in youth is what we have been doing for more than 15 years with my Kickstart program, which began in Houston, Texas, teaching martial arts to at-risk children in middle schools as part of the physical education program. Since that time, our program, which instills discipline and respect and raises self-esteem, has grown to serve more than 6,000 youngsters year round at 37 schools in Dallas and Houston. To date, KickStart has graduated more than 50,000 students with many going on to college and becoming successful in their own right.

I challenge you to respond more like my good friend Darrell Scott, after his 17-year-old daughter, Rachel, became the first of 13 people killed at the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999, by two fellow students. Instead of sinking into deep despair, Darrell formed "Rachel's Challenge," which focuses on helping students recognize their purposes in life. I would encourage you to check out the website. Darrell believes as strongly as I in those great words from Edmund Burke, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Darrell wrote a poem that perfectly describes the problems we face and provides the answer for those courageous enough to believe:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs

Your words are empty air

You've stripped our heritage,

You've outlawed simple prayer

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,

And precious children die.

You seek for answers everywhere,

And you ask the question, "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,

Through legislative creed,

And you fail to understand

That God is what we need!

 

 

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(Chuck's column now runs in syndication through Creators Syndicate. Subscriptions can be obtained by contacting Creators Syndicate. To check out some of his non-political articles, see Chuck's WND archives.)