American Notes

The Persian Gulf war ended with a stunningly low U.S. death rate. But the home front is producing far grimmer battle statistics. According to a federal study released last week, gunshot wounds are the prime cause of death among both black and white teenage boys. Young black males are still 11 times as likely to be murdered with a gun as are white youths. Yet the firearm death rate among all male teenagers increased more than 40% from 1984 to 1988, exceeding the mortality rate from natural causes. "Where are the yellow ribbons of hope and remembrance?" asked Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan in announcing the statistics. "Where is the heartfelt commitment to supporting the children of this war?"