Top News

  We asked what you thought about who bears the responsibility for teen violence in Chicago. Here are your responses.

The parents of all children should be held responsible for their child's behavior and actions. I am sick of the statement "kids will be kids" when the reality is "kids will be adults with the same behavior problems the parents let the kids get away with". It is the parent's responsibility to understand behavior issues, utilize anger management, teach those skills (and many more) to their children and get professional help if they are unable to fulfill their role. I think the parents should be charged with a criminal offense punishable by mandatory parenting classes every time (including the first) a child engages in violence. We never see these parents on the news stating anything, including "I did everything I could, I engaged the help of every resource." If the parents are finally held responsible and punishable we will see a change for the better. – Erika

I blame both the parent's and the system.#1.We had better control of our children when they new a whipping was going to happen when they did something wrong.Since the parent's WILL BE VIOLATED if we so much as look like we're going to do something to our children, here comes DCFS AND THE POLICE TO LOCK US UP.The CHILD USE TO ASK US IF THE COULD DO OR GO A PARTICULAR PLACE WE HAVE TO ASK THEM WHERE ARE YOU GOING AND YOU STILL DON'T GET A RESPONSE.I to am the parent of a murdered child age 17 shot in the face with a sawed off shot gun. the violater only did 90 day's in the juvinile ,for KILLING our only daughter. but here we go the system say's it was an accident even though they were'nt there. just a slapp on the wrist.The violater is still doing what he want's with his family. Our daughter life is over gone.BUT WE TOO ARE VICTIMS OF HOMICIDE.WHEN SOMEONE IS CAUGHT WITH A WEAPON IT SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC SENTENCE OF 10YRS PLUS FOR THERE CRIME... – Ms. Vinnie

It is a simple answer which does not require much time and money. Check the communities that do well. You will find that parental involvement is the reason. The community is a support system. Mom and DAD must be on the front line for our children to feel loved, to learn and do well in life. Hold the parents responsible. – Kathy

The teens bear the responsibility. There is a lack of respect for themselves and if you don't respect yourself, you sure are not going to respect others. I know people today don't want to talk about Jesus because they may offend someone, but the truth of the matter is when you are rooted and grounded in the faith of Jesus not only will you respect one another, you will have the same love for each other that Christ had for the church. – Anita Johnson

It is the parents responsibility for stopping teen violence. If the parents paid attention to where and what their kids were doing, things like this wouldn't happen. Too many times these kids are sent to the street because the parents don't want to be bothered. It is not the politicans, police officers, teachers, neighbors or tax-payers responsiblity. – Cindy

WE as parents have the most bearing on crime in chicago , if we teach our children that guns and violence are not the answer it would cut crime in half . Laws dont stop crime !!! Tougher laws are just that , we at home should be bringing up our kids with values and morals and not leaving it up to someone else as teachers or laws it starts at home . Children learn what they see , whether it be on tv or in real life . Be mindful of what your children are doing and who they are hanging out with , and what kind of parents do there friends have ..if the parents do drugs , guess what its probably ok for there kids to do drugs also . Violence is a way of life for some people and unfortunantly it sometimes is a circle they grow up in and then kids are brought up that way .So of course thats all the child knows ..im not saying parents can stop violence 100 % but we can truly put a dent in it when we teach our children right from wrong and consequences to actions .. – Tonya Rodriguez

it can't be limited to just one party to blame..we make it easy to obtain guns and bullets; we teach violence is a way to get your point across; we have parents who refuse to be parents - instead want to be "friends"; we have children who grow up without an adult influence that is positive in their lives - so they turn to gangs...we have politicians who would rather cater to the NRA than follow the wants of the people who say "no more guns!" we treat victims like criminals and criminals like victims.... we're all part of the blame and part of the solution..just ask yourself how YOU can help... – Chris Gerulat

I believe that the responsibility for stopping teen violence in Chicago and everywhere is with the parents. Parents need to be proactive in their childrens lives. Don't wait till they are teens to begin this. Parents MUST be there for their children from the day they are born till they day they move out as young adults. Parents must insist on knowing their childrens friends and be vigilant in seeing that their children go to school, stay in school and keep up their grades. Parents also must enforce the curfews that the police have set. Only after parents do their part can the church, schools and community do theirs. God Bless us all. – Mary B.

Parents and teenagers themselves. Parents have to stop telling kids what to do and how to do it. You can't make a child do anything they don't want to do on their own. Parents have to start telling their kids the bad things not to be doing. Let's plant it inside their heads. Stop the flow of drugs into these communties. The government beefs up security and put more money into fighting the war on drugs on the streets. This is all a setup because the war on drugs can only be won by halting the distribution from the top not the small sells at the bottom. – James Bernard

I think it is the responsibility of the parents but I also want to say that alot of the power over our teen age children has been taken away. Sometimes to get control over them we need to dicipline them and they know we can only go so far without being accused of child abuse. I think that there should be more programs to help these parents when a child is out of control. -- Ginny

Teens bear the ultimate responsibility for stopping teen violence. This is not the responsibility of society. I do not want to hear about people taking away guns just because teens are irresponsible. Teens need to grow up and realize they are not toddlers anymore. Parents need to do a better job being there for their kids from the start, as well as do a better job raising their kids from the start. Do not pawn your kid off on society, mom and dad. – Tatiana

The community, comprised of parents, teachers, clergy, mentors, neighbors, they are the only group that can stem the tide of violence. The laws are already tough. These kids need alternatives to gangs and drugs and violence. Give them some tough love and better options. As a community we must show them there is a better way, not by telling them what to do and how to live, but to show them by living the way we want them to live. Chicago has some of the most oppressive gun laws in the country, and the violence keeps mounting. Guns, knives, bats, they are not the issue, but are merely props in a macabre tale of lost hope. Tools of violence do not commit violence. Guns can be a deterrent factor, if only the laws were changed to that one could defend their own home in the city. We must also use the financial resources of the government to not give handouts, but to make investments in the communities, in a slow, steady, sustainable way to bring in new jobs, build schools that provide a quality education, and to mandate that they stay in school until they graduate. Dropping out is unthinkable in today's competitive job market. There are no living-wage jobs for dropouts. Bring in after school programs, and make parents accountable for their child's attendance and performance. This situation did not happen overnight, and will take a long time to unravel a knot that has been tying itself for decades. In the end, it takes a dedicated community to rebuild itself. If the communities most affected by violence do not work on themselves first, no amount of external influence will solve it. Simply waiting for these kids to land in jail is no future. But if as a society we do not set expectations for our children, and enforce them with love and discipline, we can only expect to see this trend escalate to even more appalling levels than we have already. While there are no quick fixes, or easy answers, there are many little things we can do that will add up to a much bigger and brighter picture. – Luke

I feel that it's the responsiblity of parents/family members to stop teen violence. If parents were held responsible for some of the things that their children do, quite a bit of this violence will cease. It is also society's responsiblity to attempt to control the amount of violence that is broadcast on the airways. The rap music and the videos are filled with so much hate and disrespect. Kids listen to this more than they listen to their parents so naturally it influences some children. Lastly the Judicial system needs to start putting these repeat offenders behind bars and stop releasing them when they have been reported/arrested over and over again. I feel after two serious offenses they should be put in detention centers staffed by responsible caring adults that will work with these kids to find out what the problem is and how to get pass it and look forward to having a rewarding future...Enough said I could go on and on. – Jackie

Every adult is responsible for what is happening to our teens. We make accuses for the way teens act out. We do not discipline them for the trouble they get into until its to late. Most of the teens don't have guidelines or boundaries set in their homes as to what is expected of them. Children take their cue of how to treat each other from the adults in their lives and how those adult/parents treat them. – Janice Kelley

Parents Parents Parents! It does not take a village to raise a child, it takes parents! And parenting means sacrifice...driving used cars instead of new cars, wearing the same winter coats year after year, NOT buying gold rings for every finger, or having your nails sculpted or manicured, or wearing wool instead of leather -- unless all other responsibilies have been met. Many people work to afford their luxuries (as opposed to just necessities) when giving up those luxuries would mean having more time & money to spend with their children. To those who disagree - ask yourselves this: when a child is victimized & lawsuits become involved, who receives the award? The "village"??? NO - the parents. Who gets tax breaks & child credits for these children -- the "village"??? NO-the parents. Who chose to have these children -- the "village"??? NO - THE PARENTS!!! This latest rash of teen violence only serves to explempify the fact that *society* has become lazy & no one wants to take responsibility. Here's a thought: Don't want to take responsibility? Take the pill instead! – Kiki

parents, too many parents do not spend any quality time with thier kids and use the schools and tv to parent, instead of actually parenting themselves! – Mark

Parents. Poor parenting is the reason for the recent rash and most all of youth and younger adult crimes. The kids are not raised with the proper ideals to allow them to know right from wrong nor how to succeed in life. The bad thing is their parents either don't know because they weren't raised right or they just don't care. Too often a common problem in urban environments. --Mike

Parents should bear the most responsibility,because if they were positively involved in the teens life the violence we are witnessing would be at a minimum. --George

I think it is a combination. First of all it's the PARENTS who are not aware of what their kids are doing or are in denial of this and some parents that think that's it's ok for their kids to look up to some of the hiphop & rap artists that promote this behavior in the name of "artisitic expression" or whatever the excuse is for the moment. Lastly, definitely the rap & hip hop artists that encourage it for their own profits but do not and probably will not leave in those affected areas but they complain about the black people that did grow up in those areas educated themselves, lived a crime-free life and are reputable, honest, hardworking members of society then decided to leave because the violence is so great that they could possibly lead a safe stress-free life. They are usually on tv on "Cribs" living "large" since they've got theirs now. We also cannot leave out the violent television and video programs. It can stop with the parents and being morally responsible enough to turn in the people that commit theses crimes and not hide and coddle them sacrificing people that live there. Just in case anyone has any complaints about what I said-don't be fooled by my name I am black and I know what I'm talking about. By the way, where praytell is the great Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Jeremiah Wright doing all of this. I do however see Father Pfleger-(admirably) WITHOUT Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton or Wright flanking him at all. WOW --Diana Pulvirenti

I feel that the parents are the ones that are ultimately responsible. There is too much freedom given to teen agers, and they are not ready for this freedom. We as parents have to be more involved with your children's whereabouts. Teen agers cannot be given the freedom to come and go as they please. I feel that there is a lack of concern for what teens are doing. Parents should be accountable for the action of their teenage children. Let's all start taking more responsibility on their actions. --Cecilia Gonzalez

Parents need to take responsibility for raising their children to have respect for others, as well as themselves. While peer pressure away from home may play a roll, if parents took more responsibility for their children by setting rules, boundaries and discipline for negative actions there would surely be a decrease in violence. It all starts at HOME!!!
--Phyllis Laba

It is a common sense question. The parents of these children are 100% responsible. I am just sick and tired of people saying "don't tell me how to raise my kids" yet they are not doing anything to keep these kids from doing crimes. I hope Mayor Daley can find an answer, but to be quite honest I believe nothing will help till parents take responsibility. --Michael D.

Everyone! I think it is a joint effort on evryone's part. I'm a strong believer in 'It takes a village to raise a child'. I do believe it does start at home but some parents don't know how to get help and at a certain point in a child's life their peers have more influence. When there is a child in need there should be someone stepping up even if the parent doesn't want to or just can't. Look at what we value in America now-a-days and then we wonder why kids are acting a fool - look at their examples. However, I am very proad that students are trying to take their life into their own hands and stand up to make a positive change (the right way). Though its sad that they feel that adults do not care. We need to listen to them more - as they say 'Out of the mouth of babe'. --Kamilah Mallory

Parents bear the responsiblity. Not lawmakers or teachers or the police. Gun laws do nothing but take guns away from law abiding citizens. Criminals will ALWAYS have guns as they could care less about any gun law. --Mike

Everyone - from parents, to teachers, to gun salespeople to the government (new regulations and punishments for selling to minors). Educate children on who is safe to communicate all threats they have heard. --Janet 

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Gay Celebrities
• Did You Know? Stars From Chicago!
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Real Or Fake?