Greetings bredrin!
Thanks for raising this qusetion!,
"How or what would you suggest to be a method, a direction, a way to stop the immense shooting and violence going on as we speak... "

Well man, i just give multiple yanks still for my life here in Ingland and Jah abundance blessing which has been raining upon I.
You see when i was growing even at 16, i man had several friends (we all lived in the same derelict building blocks) that were towing guns, reason was not because of the need to assert one's manhood, but the need to protect one's Life!

This mind of frame i clearly overstood, cause we grew up in the ghetto, most of the afternoon was spent smoking and planning robbery, then come night time- robbery and looting began. You cannot place blame entirely on these youths reason been because there was no outlet for the utter deprivation and poverty, and endless addiction of drugs that was ripping through our community in Ajegunle, Nigeria. Combine this with the fact that there was no viable bread winner for a family of 4-6 children, then you can see why the youths (boys) take up alms. Pure Rebellion and frustration against the system.

More time so, these drugs and guns were brought in and sold to our communities by Warlords, policemen, army and a local drug lord at the time -(baba Molue)most of the porous borders in Africa also help in exporting old war weapons. These weapons are old and jaded but most are reactivated and restored.But most are imported from America and the Middleeast to start wars!!! Drugs and guns work hand in Hnad you seeit?. I lost 3 of my close friends to shoot outs with local police upon returning from a robbery operation. Whilst one -samuel-was set ablaze with petrol and burnt alive in broad daylight by angry mobs- (Harsh reality yuseeit)
I am not condoning this behaviour of these robbers, far from it! But ini need to overstand the reason for this behaviour. Death to many of these youth was simply an end to the constant misery faced. And it was welcomed.

Here in the west,in Ingland, i lived in peckham for about 8yrs, again many a times i was offered gun which i rejected outright!!! If the need ever arises i man will settle disputes with my hand as i always ever since i learnt to defend myself.

But why should these youths here in the West have gunz?

- To protect self and family, as police officers are deemed unreliable in resolving community issue.

- The glamour surrounding gun violence hear in the West is very sickening, this is not helped by many the many MC (dancehall/rappers)who biggup their selves for "busting cap" or "licking out gunshots" on rivals.

One such incident springs to mind: the shooting of a 21yr father in Croydon london. His door bell was rang upon opening the door he was shoot point blank. The Killer is serving Life now. Wellthe killing was egotistically related

- The association of gun and Drugs is immutably related, you cannot have one without the other.Again most guns here in London can be purchased on the cheap,i.e a glocks and home pistols can be readily bought for as little as £60-80.

The eradication of gunz on our street needs to start from the top of the echelons (police force)!, Here in the UK particularly in London -brixton several gun amnensty has been held to engourage illegal guns to be handed in. But as you and i know no bad man is really going to turn in his gunz, so again this has minimal impact when you look at the bigger picture.As there have been several gang shoot outs in Birmingham,Manchester,Liverpool this year alone where several victims have been claimed

I personally believe that because our police here in the UK don't carry guns on the streets,gun crime is reduced, as most criminals perform robberies and looting with verbal threats and knives.Once policeman becomes armed then the bad man feels he need to arm himself twiceas much as the police to rob, cause it then becomes kill or be killed shituation.
Another reason why gun crime in UK is relatively low is:the gov always apply very punitive measures to those caught carrying live rifles here in UK with stiff prison sentences.

Having said that the issue in the USA anD cANADA is similar to Nigeria and Jamaica. So long as poverty remains in these regions, then gunman/badman will continue to assault their victims with these weapons. Alot of these weapons are normally filtered down from the top into our community as you and I know.Therefore stopping this guns getting into the community is the best measures. Eliminating poverty and keeping ghetto youths positively occupied is key. Idle mindz are the devils workshops.

So long as poverty remains in these areas, then InI NEED TO WORK TWICE AS HARD to get the message home to the youth that they need not arm themselves with gunz to be respected. Simply offering viable avenues to securing money is the alternative, often this can be difficult(because of the trade off- gunman makes $500 a night, whilst InI make $500 in 2 wks) but it can still be achieved. Road to success is not the quick and fast as adopted by badman. But the worthwile road one is one where InI children live to see dad, and are nurtured a better and safe environment with peace and love.

AFTERALL A GUN DON'T MAKE YOU A MAN , CAUSE MAN MADE THE GUN-

Ras Benjamin