The American Medical Association released a study last week about gun violence in Chicago, with a key finding that is startling: by the age of 40, nearly half of all Chicagoans will witness a shooting. That is almost impossible to conceive of if it is not your reality. If it is your reality — if it has been your reality for decades, like it has for far too many families and children on Chicago’s South and West sides — it is just another reminder of what we’re up against as we seek to protect our children.
The study found that only one-fourth of white residents are likely to witness a shooting before age 40, but the percentage increases to over 50% for Blacks and Latinos.
