Reading, Writing & Revolvers

Opening with the mind-numbing litany of juvenile crime statistics ("3 million crimes occur on or near school campuses every year--one crime every six seconds"), Reading, Writing & Revolvers jumps into the national discussion on teen violence by interviewing teens and teachers on subjects ranging from gangs to gun control. The hip young adult host B'nard Lewis does a pretty good job doing the angry young man delivering the straight dope bit, as he offers advice on what teens can do to avoid violent situations, and above exhorts his viewers to take responsibility for their actions. Interviews with students, teachers, and law enforcement officials touch on the spread of violence from the inner cities to the suburbs, the influence of media on violence, and the real fears that kids today are feeling. We only spotted one big omission: when counseling kids on what to do when they come upon a violent situation, the program never mentions that kids should alert the authorities as soon as they are safe. While some sensational clips are shown, and the program occasionally seems too hip and flip for its serious subject matter (which can sometimes seem to glamorize the issue), Reading, Writing & Revolvers would still serve as a good discussion starter for young adults. (R. Pitman)