GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
Tuesday's carnage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado reminds us of the importance of paying attention to the opinions of the nation's nearly 30 million teenagers. The Gallup Youth Survey has been measuring the attitudes of teenagers in the United States on a weekly basis since 1977. The following snapshot represents a sampling of these opinions on issues which are related to the events of Tuesday. It should be noted that these teenagers' opinions were collected before the Colorado shootings, and may change in future measurements as a result of the Colorado tragedy.
- One teen in six (17%) says that "students bringing weapons to
school" is a "very big" or "big" problem in their school.
- Seven in 10 (70%) say they would report someone who brought a
weapon to school.
- "Gangs" and "violence" are the third most often cited problem
teenagers say faces people their age.
- Three in 10 teens (in a 1996 Gallup Youth Survey) said that
when they are in school, they fear for their physical
safety.
- One teen in five has a best friend who was attacked within the
period of a year by someone wielding a lethal weapon.
- Seven in 10 report seeing people fighting each other at their
schools.
- Three in 10 say they are aware of peers who have carried or
regularly carry guns and knives when they are in school.
- Six in 10 say that laws governing the sale of firearms should
be stricter; 54% would favor a total ban on assault rifles; 70% say
Americans should NOT have the right to own large quantities of
weapons.
- Nearly half of teens say there are guns in their
homes.
- About half of teens say it is very or somewhat important to
know how to shoot a gun.
- Six percent say it is very or somewhat important to belong to a
gang or posse.
- One teen in five (based on a Gallup Youth Survey scale) falls
into the category of "alienated." About one-tenth of teenagers say
they are unhappy with the way they are.
- Six teens in 10 believe that media containing violence
contributes to violent behavior in life.
- Only about one in five says their parents are very strict about what they are permitted to watch on TV.
