Oklahoma City leaders are confronting a surge in teen gun violence, and a local nonprofit is taking a personal, hands‑on approach. Terrell Johnson, director of the Community and Intervention Center at Pivot, has lost three teenagers he mentored to gun‑related deaths and says the issue hits “very dear to my heart.” Johnson and Pivot are organizing panels, outreach to parents, and safety education to stem the tide.
Community call to action
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna called the problem “significant enough” to merit public attention and immediate action after two teenagers were arrested over the weekend in connection with separate homicides. She urged parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts and possessions, emphasizing that vigilance at home is a crucial first step.
Pivot’s grassroots response
Johnson explained that the problem begins at home but requires a “village” of support. Pivot has been discussing teen violence for years, but recent spikes in gun‑possession charges among youth have intensified its efforts. He linked the rise to Oklahoma’s open‑carry law, which now treats open carry as a misdemeanor for minors, leading more young people to seek help at the Center.
“Since Oklahoma is an open‑carry state, that has moved to a misdemeanor. So, we’ve seen an increase in those youth coming to the Community and Intervention Center,” Johnson said.
Listening to teens
Pivot recently hosted a panel of teenagers directly affected by gun violence. Participants shared that many lack safe spaces to gather, often resorting to informal “kickbacks” in neighborhoods like Arcadia. They also highlighted the pervasive influence of social media, noting how real‑time communication can quickly spread plans for violent encounters.
“We talked about social media, how much that’s an influence. We didn’t have to worry about social media growing up. But the same way it would take a phone call and going around the school the next day, then we’ll go to school, that’s happening real time with them,” Johnson explained.
Where the guns are coming from
When asked about the source of firearms, Johnson said many teens obtain guns from their own homes or from vehicles parked at malls, movie theaters, or clubs. He stressed that parents need to secure weapons and discuss safety with their children.
“Conversation. A gun safety lock, that would be first priority if I had a youth at my house,” he added.
Parental involvement and next steps
Behenna and Johnson both underscored the role of parents in preventing teen gun violence. They recommend regular check‑ins, clear rules about evening whereabouts, and ensuring that firearms are stored with locks or kept out of reach.
Pivot plans to continue its community panels, expand safe‑space programming, and work with schools and law‑enforcement to identify at‑risk youth before tragedies occur. By combining personal stories, parental guidance, and practical safety measures, the organization hopes to turn the current trend of rising youth gun possession into a declining one.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
