TO THE EDITOR:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 16,121 homicides in the United States in 2013. More than 11,000 of those killings were caused by firearms.
What better way is there to teach our children that all lives matter? Why not give people a way to vent their aggression in a controlled manner before more lives are tragically cut short?
In order to ensure a safer future for our children, we must end this vicious cycle of retribution and revenge killings plaguing this country.
Let us start by investing in change.
Gyms and recreational centers across America could start open-house programs that would take people off the streets and bring them into safer environments to settle their disputes.
Let us also build community and recreational centers where there are none to provide a safer alternative than street justice.
Rather than the serious injuries that street fights almost always guarantee, both participants in boxing or mixed martial arts challenges will walk away because these conflicts come with rules, referees, gloves, headgear, mouth pieces and other protective measures in place.
Matches will be fair, one-on-one contests that only take place after all efforts by mentors to reach peace without a fight are exhausted. Every person has free will to choose to take part in a match and can quit at any time.
