Brief them before you grieve for them – that is the name of a new initiative by the Conscious Youth Development Program and it seems to already be working. This afternoon CYDP Director Edward Broaster showed us two guns – a 38 revolver – and a sawed 16 gauge shotgun. Both had been turned in voluntarily – one by a parent and the other by a youth. Broaster says the incentive this time is peace.
Supt. Edward Broaster, Director – CYDP
“This 38 was turned in by a parent who knew that her son had the 38 revolver and his life was in danger but she decided that she is fed up the violence as well and she didn’t want to be grieving for her son and she doesn’t want the mother of the other young person who has conflict with her child to
be grieving for her son either so she did the right thing and turned in the 38.
It is very important that they engage in the conflict resolution process because they can help us to brief the young people regarding the safety issues and resolving conflicts rather than after a fatal shooting they are out there grieving. So those parents must be commended. We feel that it is important that parents play a vital role in assisting us in resolving some of the conflicts that are occurring within young people out there on the street.
Many a times the parents know of the conflict but then they don’t go to the police or they just sit there and don’t do anything about it. So we want to encourage them to come forward and work with us.”
Keith Swift,
What do they get in exchange for the guns?
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“In exchange for the guns they get not to be arrested for a firearm, they get freedom - because if they are caught with a firearm they will end up going to jail and as well they might be killed or they might kill someone in the process. So it is basically a win-win situation.”
The guns can be turned in to either the Conscious Youth Development’s Office on North Front Street or the Police Department. No questions will be asked.
