Max Cleland: “The facts from this report indicate that a third of the violence involving teenagers in this Nation occurs in our…”

“The facts from this report indicate that a third of the violence involving teenagers in this Nation occurs in our schools. That is shocking. It seems to me, then, that the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts is correct that we need this broad-based approach and a national center, a national clearinghouse to make sure that communities are in touch with one another. I can testify that the little community of Conyers, GA, not far from my hometown of Lithonia, GA, has within it Heritage High School. That community was in shock, in trauma really, for months after the school shootings there. The community was wondering what in the world to do, whether to enhance counseling, whether to improve police protection, whether to enforce tighter laws or what. With this center that we are setting up, the National Center for School and Youth Safety, one call can inform any community that goes through such a tragedy and such trauma what other communities have done and what resources are available to assist them.”