Get the Facts!

Our young people are the most frequent victims of violent crime.

• In 1994, more than 2,600 juveniles between the ages of 10 and 17 were murdered. That is a rate of 7 per day.

• One in five of these victims was killed by another juvenile.

• The number of juveniles arrested for violent crimes has increased 60% in the last 10 years.

• During that same time, murder arrests rose 125%.

• They are raped, robbed or assaulted at a rate five times higher than adults.

• The homicide rate for youths in the United States is 10 times higher than in Canada, 15 times higher than in Australia, 28 times higher than in France and Germany.

• This increase in juvenile crime has been linked to the increase in youth gang activity.

• Gangs are now present in all 50 States, in large cities, small cities, and in rural communities.

Excerpted from comments made before the U.S. Senate, October 23, 1997, by Senator Kempthorne.

On behalf of Ann's Campaign we want to thank Senators Kempthorne, Murray, Brownback, Craig and Robb for speaking out in such a compassionate and powerful way on the floor of the United State Senate on Thursday, October 23. We also salute our own congressman Moran from Virginia who addressed the House of Representatives in a very meaningful way also on the 23rd of October.

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