Teen Gun Survey to be Released by Teens at National Press Club: How Many American Teens Know Someone Who Has Been Shot?

6/25/2002

From: Dan Kotowski, 773-588-0180, ext. 1-470 Mark Karlin, 312-474-1740 Day of News Conference, 312-719-4228 (cell)

News Advisory:

WHEN: Thursday, June 27 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor Murrow Room Washington, D.C.

WHAT: Teens will release the third annual, nationally (plus or minus 3 percent) valid teen (12-19 years old) gun survey. The news conference will be hosted by the Child Welfare League (which has nearly 1200 child service agency members nationwide) on behalf of Children's Uhlich Home of Chicago. The survey is sponsored by Uhlich and underwritten, in part, by the Joyce Foundation of Chicago. It is conducted by the nationally recognized Teen Research Unlimited, on behalf of Uhlich.

In its first and second years, the survey received national coverage, including an Associated Press story in 2000, with more than 120 television and radio news pieces around the country.

The survey represents the opinions and experience of teens nationally on gun and school safety issues, including:

-- What percentage of American teens nationally can get a gun. -- What percentage of American teens nationally know someone who has been shot. -- What percentage of American teens nationally believe metal detectors make schools safer. -- What percentage of American teens nationally want armed security guards in schools. -- What percentage of American teens nationally support tougher handgun controls. -- What percentage of American teens nationally believe video games, television and movies can make teens violent. -- What percentage of American teens nationally fear gun violence might happen in their schools.

The survey includes 17 questions, with breakdowns for gender, age, ethnicity and region. It was administered to 1026 American youth and accurately represents the views and experiences of teens nationwide.

Findings include significant percentages of American teens who know someone has been shot, who can obtain a handgun, and who fear violence in their schools.

WHO: Six teenagers from Uhlich Children's Home's "Hands Without Guns" project will present the survey results, including offering their suggestions to adults on how to help prevent teens from being shot.

The "Hands Without Guns" project, which empowers teenagers to attack the gun violence problem through a variety of methods, is an initiative of Uhlich Children's Home, a large multi-service agency serving at-risk children and families in Chicago. Uhlich has launched a multi-year campaign to "Give a Voice to Youth," of which "Hands Without Guns" is one component.

Shay Bilchik, president and CEO of the Child Welfare League, will host Tom Vanden Berk, president and Executive Director of Uhlich Children's Home of Chicago, who will introduce the teen presenters.

Visuals: -- Teens wearing the names of teens shot and killed with handguns in the United States. -- A map of the United States with headlines of youth shootings from around the country surrounding the map.

Source: The Uhlich Children's Home "Hands Without Guns" Initiative and the Child Welfare League 2002 Teen Gun Survey