Postponed - Live Web Video Briefing on Violence in America
Following the tragedy at Newtown Elementary this past December, gun violence has undergone increased scrutiny in America. As the Senate introduces legislation in an attempt to curb this violence, many have decried or blamed what they coin as America's "culture of violence," and castigate this culture as responsible for Newtown, and other recent mass shootings including Columbine and Aurora. Neglected in the current debate is the reality that in two decades, the rate of violent crime in America has been halved. In many cities across America, the rate has fallen by more than sixty or seventy percent. There are many explanations for this decline, and it is certainly multi-dimensional or multi-causal. However, it also deserves commendation and consideration in the current debate.
To help explain and understand this decline in crime rates, as well as the various cultural inputs that are often mentioned as the perpetrators of cultural violence, NDN will host a web briefing with Dr. John Roman and Dr. Douglas Gentile. Dr. Roman is currently a senior fellow at the Urban Institute where he studies crime policy and justice programs. He is additionally the executive director of the District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute. Dr. Gentile is currently a Psychology professor at Iowa State University, and is a world-renowned expert on the effect of video games and media. He has spoken at the White House and in many other policy-oriented briefings on this subject.
The decline of violent crime in America is multi-causal and complex, and requires analysis through multiple disciplines. This web video briefing is uniquely suited to help explain this decline, and what can be done in the future to further decrease violence in America.
We at NDN recently published this op-ed in the Hill titled "America the Violent? No More" that discusses the fall of the rate of violent crime in America.
This event has been temporarily postponed. We will revise this post when the event is rescheduled.
