“This American Life” to issue two episodes on gun violence at Chicago’s Harper High School

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:15:00 +0000

The December school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which left 26 dead by the hands of armed gunman Adam Lanza, finally jolted the nation into action on gun control: President Obama has since organized a task force to tighten restrictions, politicians are initiating conversations about mental health and even the once-stubborn MPAA has begun to question its role in the perpetuation of gun culture.

But in parts of Chicago, gun violence among teenagers is a daily reality--and has been for years. At Harper High School in West Englewood, 29 Harper students were shot last year alone. "This American Life" reports that twenty-one were wounded and eight died.

Gun violence at the high school, which has more than 15 gangs in attendance, will be the focus of two full episodes of "This American Life" airing this month. The episodes are a culmination of the work of three reporters, Linda Lutton, Alex Kotlowitz and Ben Calhoun, who spent five months at the school.

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“This American Life” to issue two episodes on gun violence at Chicago’s Harper High School