Teen Gun Survey 2009


UCAN Monica Sanders2009 Annual Teen Gun Survey

At the age of 15, Monica Sanders (a Hands Without Guns participant, right) answered her phone to learn that her friend had been fatally shot in the stomach by another female teen, leaving behind a four month old daughter.  "It still shocks me to this day," said Sanders, now 18.  "It's insane that a teenager could get a gun."  

Alarmed by increasing gun violence in their neighborhoods and schools, Chicago teens are asking local, state and national policymakers to help keep them safe.  The latest national Teen Gun Survey revealed that more than one in four teens know someone who has been shot – and more than one in three teens fear being shot someday.  Twelve percent of teens say that at least one student from their school has been killed by gun violence in the past year.

UCAN Teen Gun SurveyUCAN Teen Gun Survey


The survey indicated that while most teens expect to benefit from more violence-prevention programs, they agree that adults – including government officials – are not doing enough to prevent gun violence.  In fact, four out of five teens agree that young people would benefit from more violence-prevention programs.

“Whether we’re tightening restrictions on purchasing guns, reauthorizing a ban on assault weapons, or fighting to protect Chicago’s own handgun ban, it is our moral obligation – as elected leaders and parents – to do everything in our power to keep our kids safe,” said Congressman Michael Quigley (IL-5). “We cannot abdicate our responsibility and allow the special interests to run roughshod over sensible gun restrictions anymore and allow so many promising futures to perish.  I’d like to thank UCAN for their ongoing efforts, especially the young leaders who have stood up, spoken out, and demanded a life without fear of violence.”


Despite the many grim statistics, the survey also found that teens remain hopeful about solving the problem of gun violence and express a willingness to do their part.  Eight in 10 teens say they would inform an adult if someone they knew had an illegal gun, and nearly 70 percent feel optimistic that we will solve the problem of gun violence in our society.

UCAN Teen Gun SurveyUCAN Teen Gun Survey


Each year, UCAN discusses the results of the Teen Gun Survey with teens from both the city of Chicago and its suburbs in order to localize the issue of gun violence.  Key themes are then discussed in UCAN's annual Urban / Suburban Youth Summit on Gun Violence, which takes place in December.   Following the Summit, a Youth Steering Committee works to follow up on recommended solutions and work with legislators.  Meanwhile, UCAN's Hands Without Guns violence prevention program continues to work in schools to teach non-violence conflict resolution and to influence peer behavior.  

To pledge YOUR commitment to help ensure a safer future for our young people, please download this pledge form and send it to UCAN. 
Thank you for your support!


The following documents are also available to download:


Survey methodology
UCAN's annual Teen Gun Survey, conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, interviewed 653 13-18 year olds nationwide in a monthly Omnibuzz® online survey.  Quotes were set to ensure equal distribution by gender, age, and region, as well as to ensure representative samples of African-Americans and Hispanics.  Each interview was approximately 10 minutes in length.  The Teen Gun Survey is generously funded by The Joyce Foundation.
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