SUMMARY:

        The Anti-Violence Campaign is the ongoing project of the International Health & Epidemiology Research Center.  The Anti-Violence Campaign is a comprehensive violence prevention/intervention project that strives to eliminate mortality and  morbidity in children/youth.  We do this by influencing children's learned responses at an early age.  This campaign educates and raises awareness about the hazards of guns, toy guns/weapons, and violence among children, parents, and educators.  This is done through presentations, workshops, letter writing, influencing toy manufacturers and policy makers, media coverage, art exhibition( Replacing Violence with Art), and Anti-Violence Day events.  At the events, children turn in their toy guns/weapons, and instead, create a piece of art with the collected weapons.
 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

Problem: Violence is a social disease which has now reached it's epidemic iceberg, and is becoming the # 1 public health problem.  Violence, especially gun violence, is killing more children than many diseases combined. Violence is the most important issue facing our children and youth today in the U.S., and the target age group for violence is getting younger everyday.

The U.S. ranks tremendously behind many other industrialized nations not only in regards to infant mortality and number of uninsured, but also in violence, homicide and especially gun violence, few statistics are given below:
 

•  U. S. has the highest gun related death rate among children and youth in comparison with 25 industrialized countries, 16 times more than all these 25 countries combined. (Center for Disease Control, Feb. 7,  1997)

•  In America, in just two days, more people die by handgun than in one year in Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Australia and Japan combined. (Center to Prevent Handgun Violence)

• Homicide rates (per 100,000 pop.) in the U.S., for males age 15 to 24 for 1992 are 37.3, the next highest rate is only 4.3 in Italy, followed by Israel 3.7, Ireland 1.8, Germany 1.1, France 0.9, England & Wales 0.6, and Japan 0.5. (CDC Report, Jan. 1995 from WHO & NCHS)

•  During the 8 years  of the Vietnam War, 58,000 American soldiers were killed.   More people die by guns in the U.S. every 2 years now.

• Every 20 minutes, an American is shot to death.

         - In U.S. between 1984 and 1994, juvenile arrests for gun homicides quadrupled, and murders of children using guns tripled.  Gun violence is the leading killer of children under 20 in the United States.  In 1993 alone, (the most recent year for which complete data is available), 5,751 children were killed by firearms; 64% of these deaths were homicides, and over 25% of these deaths were suicides using guns.  Guns are used in two out of three youth suicide attempts, causing death or permanent disability far more often than other methods.  Unintentional shootings killed 526 children in 1993, more than ten children every week.  Every hour and a half, another child in this country is killed by gunfire. (Children's Defense Fund Annual Report, 1997)

        - California, Out of all 50 states, has the highest rate of firearm deaths among children.  California had the highest number of homicides and suicides killing children, and ranked second in accidental gun deaths.  (Children's Defense Fund Annual Report, 1997)  Guns are the number one cause of death for children under 20 in California.  (California Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Report, 1993).

         - Los Angeles is greatly impacted by this alarming epidemic.  In 1991, 66% of all youth homicides were gun related.  (Los Angles County Sheriff's Department Report, 1992)  Possession of a weapon is the number one reason for expulsion referrals in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  Between 1993 and 1996, 1287 students have been expelled for bringing a gun or knife to school. (LAUSD reports, 1994 & 1996).

• Guns are not toys.
• Toy guns kill!  Youngsters have been shot for carrying toy guns that looked real; Felonies have also been committed by toy guns. (See Fact sheet about toy guns, attached)
• Violence is a learned behavior.
• Values and behaviors learned during childhood have the most lasting effect throughout adult life.
• Children have been desensitized to violence and gun violence, because of the glamorization of violence in the media, and the possession and use of dangerous playthings (including toy guns/weapons, video games, etc.).

PURPOSE: The ultimate goal of the ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN is to create a healthier, violence free society for future generations:

        Short term:

• Eliminate unnecessary deaths and injury to children/youth shot by police or gangs mistaking toy guns for real guns.
• Reduce the number of felonies committed by toy guns.
• Reduce the likelihood that children will confuse their parent's real guns for toy guns.
• Increase the children's creativity, self-worth, and positiveness by making art pieces of collected destructive toys (all with a Anti-violence messages).
• Reduce  medical costs, and costs to police departments, schools, and airports for the settlement of cases.

• Sensitizing the children and youth to the hazards of real and toy guns, dangerous playthings and violence, by influencing their learned response, at an early age, in order to create a new violence-free generation.

Children /youths, their families, educators, professionals, community leaders and the general population, with priority given to minorities, and those most vulnerable, in undeserved, un/underinsured, and gang infested areas.
 

LINKAGE:

Public/private schools/districts, different communities & organizations, health departments, churches, children museums, etc.
 

SERVICES PROVIDED AND METHODS:

Providing education, raising awareness, and conducting the "Anti-Violence Day" Events, presentations, workshops, distribution of educational materials, petitions, influencing policy makers, letter writing, and through the media and art displays by:

• Teaching children, at an early age, the danger of real and toy guns, dangerous playthings and violence, increasing awareness among parents and teachers/school officials.
• To promote an anti-violence message clearly delineating: GUNS ARE NOT TOYS.
• Displaying art pieces, made by artists, as well as children, from collected weapons, "Replacing Violence With Art".
• Augmenting the campaign's message through public education and extensive media coverage of Anti-Violence Day events and interviews.
• Influencing toy retailers/manufacturers to stop manufacturing or selling toy guns and weapons and instead removing them from their stores.
• Influencing policy makers to support anti-violence legislation.

Toy weapons are increasingly being used to commit real crimes, and more children are being killed when a toy gun is mistaken for a real gun.  Consider the following alarming facts about toy guns, crimes, and children being killed:
 

1. On June 21, 1997, an entire terminal at Los Angeles International Airport was evacuated, grounding at least 15 flights, when a cigarette lighter shaped like a pistol was mistaken for a real gun.
2. On March 1st, 1997, a 6 year-old boy's toy gun caused the evacuation of the  San Jose International Airport, in California.  More than 20 flights were affected.
3. On Memorial Day, May 29, 1995 in Carson Park, California, Freddy Palacio, a 12 year old, was shot twice by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy who mistook the $2 toy gun for a .22 caliber pistol.
4. On Sunday, April 2, 1995, in the City of Terrace, California, 18 year old Santiago Lopez Garcia was shot to death by the police because he had a cigarette lighter, which resembled a gun in his hand.
5. On April 3, 1995, police almost shot at Robert Alvarez, a 28 year old man, in East L.A. because he had a lighter the shape of a semiautomatic pistol. He was arrested and charged with suspected brandishing of a firearm "on a public thoroughfare."
6. In October of 1994, Nicholas Heyward Jr., a 13 year old boy, and straight A student of Brooklyn, NY, was shot in the chest and killed by a police officer when he was playing with his toy gun.
7. Jamiel Johnson, a 16 year old boy, was shot and wounded on the same day, and in the same city as above.
8. In 1994, toy guns were reportedly used in 329 felonies in New York alone.
9. In 1991, a 3 year old boy was shot and killed by his grandfather in Northern California, while playing, and by mistake using his real gun instead of his grandson's toy gun.
10. In 1987, Leonard Falcon, a 19 year old boy from Rancho Cucamonga was shot and killed by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy while playing with laser tag gun, which resembled a real gun.
11. In 1983, a 5 year old boy was shot and killed by an Orange County police officer because he was holding a toy gun.
12. Studies show that most children younger than 8 can't reliably distinguish a toy gun from a real gun. (Ms., May/June 1994, Vol. IV, No. 6, P. 40-41).

    Through a community-based campaign, and a strong collaboration with public and private schools, government agencies, communities, and non profit organizations, the International Health & Epidemiology Research Center is empowering educators, public, parents, and children with essential information.  The campaign's vital message: guns are not toys, and violence is not play; both real and toy firearms can kill.

     This innovative project has been carried out successfully in many public/private schools/districts, different communities, public/private organizations, professional meetings, churches, and children museums throughout California.  It has also drawn national and international attention. The Anti-Violence Campaign  has directly served over 150,000 children, parents, and professionals and has also indirectly  served millions, throughout the world, through media since its inception in April 1995.
 

 Anti-Violence Day Events: 

    For the first time, we carried out this project  very successfully on April 2, 1995 for a minority community. Then, in several private schools  in April and May of the same year.  This project also took off, with great
success, in California  for the Hispanic/ Latino Community in Pacoima on October 28, Monroe Complex of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), including 15 schools, on October  21 in North Hills, and several centers of the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles on October  16-17 of 1995.  Then, due to its tremendous success and great demand, this project was carried out for the second time in  3 parks (in Northern and Southern California) for the Iranian community on March 3, the Jewish community on April 14, Jordan/Lock Cluster of the LAUSD (including 25 schools), S. Central  Los Angeles, on May 18, Nickerson Garden Housing in Watts area (mostly African American  and a very low socioeconomic area) in Los Angeles on August 26, and in Santa Barbara, CA,  on December 7, 1996.  Our most recent project was on April 6, 1997 for the
Iranian Community, in two parks in Irvine, Orange County (3rd Annual), in Chatsworth, California (2nd Annual), in  the San Fernando Valley, California and on April 10, 1997 at the Los Angeles Children Museum. in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Health Department  During these events, children turned in their toy gun/weapons, and instead used them to create a giant collage with an anti-violence message.  This art piece was kept at the Los Angeles Children Museum for two months for the public to view.  Children who did not have a toy gun to turn in were encouraged to write short stories or create art work about danger of guns in society.  Each child who participated received a certificate and a "Say No to Toy Guns/Weapons" T-shirt as a reward.  The children, by wearing these T-shirts, could be "walking billboards" to help their communities; discouraging the use of violence and the violence objects.  The families also learned the immediate danger imposed on their children by real, and toy guns.  These events were broadcasted nationally and internationally.  One of the articles about this project, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times is enclosed.  Schools and communities in different states such as Oregon, Ohio, New York, and Florida have expressed great interest for carrying out this campaign/project.
 

Presentations/Workshops:

    In addition, and prior to the Anti-Violence Day events, we have provided over 25 lectures, workshops, and presentations for parents, educators, community representatives, and at scientific meetings throughout California.  The statistical analysis of questionnaire data support that over 90% of adult participants determined:

The event or workshop was very informative.
The event or workshop taught new information
They believe that this project should be presented to everyone
They will not buy toy guns, toy weapons or violence plaything for any children

Influencing Policy Makers and Educators:

We already have endorsements and support from the National School Safety Center, the Los Angeles Unified School District (board members, Safety Planning and Multicultural Education Committees), Claremont Graduate School, Physician For Social Responsibility, Los Angeles County Health Department, Los Angeles Children Museum, American Academy of Pediatrics, Iranian Medical Association, Santa Barbara Women Against Gun Violence, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Diane Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Hilda Solis, Councilman Alarcon, and Councilman Feuer, and many more.
 

Media :

Strong media coverage of each event, numerous newspaper articles, (copies are available upon request), and extensive radio and television interviews with Dr. Kioumehr have successfully augmented the ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN'S message, and millions of people have been served in this way nationally and even internationally.
 
 
For more information please refer to Anti-Violence Campaign  homepage.