OPINION: We need to address the problem of violent crime among Alaska’s young people

Like many others, I was deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent homicides of two children who were separate victims of a violent crime at the hands of not an adult, but another child. While Anchorage is no stranger to violent crimes, I worry for the safety of children in our community, as there is a seeming increase in both violent and non-violent crimes related to firearms.

The first slaying, which occurred just weeks ago, was a teenage boy whose life was taken over a sum no greater than $50 by another young person with an illegally obtained firearm, according to criminal charges. There are instances where children can safely handle firearms under the proper training and supervision for recreational activities like hunting, but obviously this was not one of them.

The second killing occurred mere days later, when a 12-year-old girl was fatally shot at the hands of yet another juvenile suspect in North Anchorage. Additionally, earlier in November, there were two separate occasions of juveniles bringing loaded firearms to school — one in an elementary school and the other in a high school. While these aren’t the only incidents to occur this year, they are the most recent which have left two more families without their loved ones during this and every holiday season.

Whatever the answer is, I believe this is a serious concern that needs to be addressed in our community.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, there has been a rise in firearm-related injuries and deaths. These incidents have affected children of all ages not only from the physical pain of enduring the injuries, but also the emotional aftermath of the incidents as well. Nationally, in 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death in children age 19 and younger, with more than 300 mass shootings in the U.S within the first half of the year.

What makes our community any less susceptible to similar tragedies? We are currently experiencing an increase in risk factors contributing to these outcomes such as potential school closures (also an important issue to be discussed) and limited access to mental health resources. It is entirely too easy to obtain a firearm, and in the case of the 16-year-old boy who was allegedly shot and killed by three other young people, the gun was purchased in a grocery store parking lot in the middle of the day.

There is no doubt that negligence at the hands of adults plays a major role in the issue. While the issue of gun rights and safety is a heated subject in the U.S., it needs to remain a topic of conversation as to how we can keep the youth in our community safe. These types of actions start with the home, and adults being responsible with their firearms can help decrease the number of incidents.

When it comes to illegal purchasing of firearms by juveniles, there’s only so much that can be done without stricter regulations. There are extreme examples of metal detectors in schools and daily searches, but that doesn’t solve the problem. There needs to be greater access to tools for youth struggling in any facet of their lives. You don’t typically wake up one day and decide to murder someone without ever considering crimes before.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be beneficial to have an “Alive at 25″ type of education curriculum that instead of vehicle accidents focuses on violent crimes and their aftermath. I believe it would dissuade some children from considering such actions if they had to see and hear about the aftermath of similar incidents firsthand.

As someone who has unfortunately been a first responder to violent crimes against children, I know it can have a profound impact. That does not mean to say I think we should be showing morbid footage of children. Instead, I encourage conversation and presentations of firsthand accounts from survivors and family members.

Furthermore, I think parents who do not take proper measures to ensure the safety of their firearms should have some liability when it comes to damages caused by their inaction. That does not mean that accidents don’t occur, but there shouldn’t be access to firearms readily.

I understand these ideas are controversial, but it needs to spark conversation about solutions. I often wonder how many children must die before anything is done. What we’re doing here isn’t working, because it’s hardly anything.

I do not have the answers to this crisis, as it’s part of a much larger and widespread problem being experienced not only here in Anchorage, but in Alaska and the Lower 48 as well. I do greatly wish that there was more being done to address the issue of homelessness in teens, mental health issues, and drug/alcohol abuse that are all contributing factors and all community concerns of their own.

While I do not have any children, it’s the frequency of these types of crimes that make me hesitant to ever have children, as it doesn’t feel safe or right raising them in this environment. I hope that we can begin some type of activism towards combating future tragedies such as the ones we’ve experienced in the last year, so that no more families must bury their children after similar incidents.

Pantha Grasser is an Anchorage resident and former first responder.

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