June is Gun Violence Awareness Month.
The past decade has been difficult…with youth gun violence showing a sharp increase and Sioux Falls is no different.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum says it isn’t just gun violence…but overall violence among youth that’s rising.
“As time has gone on, we’ve kind of seen just more and more prevalence of guns, and that’s where our violent crime unit really started,” said Thum. “And I think there’s a difference, there’s just more willingness and more opportunity for some of our young people to engage in this.”
Firearms are the leading cause of death for kids under the age of 17, with firearm deaths in that age group increasing by 68-percent.
Thanks KELO-AM Radio