RECIPE FOR VIOLENCE: DRUGS, GANGS, SMUGGLING

Violent Crime In America Is Up - At An Alarming Rate.

At a recent Violent Crime Summit in Washington, D.C., law enforcement
executives and mayors from the 50 largest U.S. cities discussed this
spike in violent crime. Across the nation, homicides, robberies and
aggravated assault (shootings) are up as much as 30 to 60 percent and
more over the last year. Some cities say the numbers have reached
all-time highs. Most of the increases are attributed to young male offenders.

While Phoenix has seen increases in homicides (3 percent), robberies
(8 percent) and aggravated assaults (9 percent) over the last year,
the increases are significantly lower than those of most major
cities. Thanks to the support of Mayor Phil Gordon and the Phoenix
City Council, the Phoenix Police Department has maintained and
increased its level of public-safety resources.

The executives at the crime summit identified what they believe to be
driving this trend in violence by young Americans:

A lack of core family, parental guidance or supervision.

Drug use and smuggling.

Gang activity.

The violence in today's music, video and film industries.

The proliferation of firearms in America.

This is also the generation that grew up on video games of violence
in which they competitively killed or destroyed countless beings on
their computer screens. The self-proclaimed motive behind the violent
acts allegedly committed by Phoenix's recent "Serial Shooters"
suspects was "RRV - Recreational Random Violence." Shooting and
killing dogs, horses and human beings for recreation.

The use of firearms in murders, robberies and aggravated assaults has
increased over the last few years. In Phoenix, 80 percent of murders
were committed with guns. Nearly half the robberies and aggravated
assaults now involve firearms. Those states with liberal gun laws
that allow for the easy and inexpensive purchase of assault rifles
and semi-automatic weapons are feeding the trend of violence across
the country.

Arizona and other states have made the production of methamphetamines
more difficult through laws regulating the sale of the drug's
ingredients. In response, Mexico is now the home to meth "super labs"
where major manufacturing takes place. As a result, the kidnappings,
murders and shootings between drug smugglers and local dealers plague
the border states of Arizona and Texas.

The violent-crime problem relates directly to an increase in youth
and gang violence; the majority of offenders are younger than ever -
18- to 25-year-olds now make up the most prolific violent-crime age group.

An increasing number of young African-American males are victims of
violent crimes committed by other African-American males. Young
Latino males are victimizing other Latinos. And these two groups
disproportionately populate U.S. prisons.

African-American and Latino leaders need to publicly take the lead on
the issues of victimization and acts of violence committed by the
young Black and Latino males. Discussing and addressing these issues
tied to the African-American and Latino communities does not
perpetuate racism or bigotry; not discussing them is simply irresponsible.

Gun control has been a four-letter word in this country for decades.
But we continue to confuse responsible gun ownership with liberal,
ineffective gun laws. Technology and new legislation can work in
favor of law enforcement towards reducing gun violence.

Drug and human smuggling through Arizona's porous border to the south
also contributes to America's violence. The Phoenix Police Department
estimates that 80 to 90 percent of Phoenix's murders and other
violent crimes are related to three high-risk behaviors: gangs, drugs
and human smuggling.

Unless Americans take an active role about the increase in violence,
we may very well live with this trend of youthful violence for an
entire generation.

The writer is an assistant police chief of the Phoenix Police Department.