Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9408240007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
It is unpleasant but urgently relevant, therefore, to note what's going on in the lives of these subjects. Every day in America, according to statistics from the Children's Defense Fund:
3 children die from child abuse.
9 children are murdered.
13 children die from guns.
30 children are wounded by guns.
63 babies die before they are one month old.
101 babies die before their first birthday.
145 babies are born at very low birthweight (less than 3.25 pounds).
202 children are arrested for drug offenses.
307 children are arrested for crimes of violence.
340 children are arrested for drinking or drunken driving.
480 teen-agers get syphilis or gonorrhea.
636 babies are born to women who had late or no prenatal care.
1,115 teen-agers have abortions.
1,234 children run away from home.
1,340 teen-agers have babies.
2,255 teen-agers drop out of school each school day.
2,781 teen-agers get pregnant.
2,860 children see their parents divorce.
2,868 babies are born into poverty.
3,325 babies are born to unmarried women.
5,703 teen-agers are victims of violent crime.
7,945 children are reported abused or neglected.
8,400 teen-agers become sexually active.
1,200,000 latchkey children come home to houses in which there is a gun.
It's getting late. Do you know where your children are?
by CNB