The Rickey Smiley Morning Show discussed gun violence. A Black student at the University of Virginia was arrested and charged in the shooting deaths of three members of the school’s football team, said Rickey Smiley. The gunman also allegedly shot and wounded two other people.
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr is 22 years old and a former member of the school’s team. He is accused of killing Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry as they returned from a field trip. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, informed Smiley.
Smiley said his son is a college student. The morning show host said his son tells him stories that are “absolutely horrible.” Smiley says he keeps in constant contact with his son and prays daily for him. To help his children prepare for the violence they face, Smiley said he “had to get my kids in a situational training class.” Because situational training teaches people what to do in a hostile situation.
Smiley said the current generation is “lost.” Gun violence is a significant issue for younger people. “Everybody has a gun. Kids walking around with guns hanging out of their back pockets,” informed Smiley. The radio DJ said gun violence had struck close to home.
Being safe on campus and paying attention to their surroundings is the advice that the morning show host said he gives to his two daughters, who are college students.
Smiley said what angers him most is the amount of love and care mothers put into raising their children, only to have the result be picking out “a damn casket” for their child. Smiley said the problem is “us.”
Letoya Luckett said the problem is people are not emotionally stable and they are reactive. “And when you have access to a gun or something that you feel you can win whatever this battle is… that’s what you’re gonna go to,” she added.
Some music is a promoter of gun violence. Maria More says people need to boycott music makers who promote killing people. “Do we want to continue to support artists that perpetuate gun violence…. I think it’s really time to say; you know what, enough is enough. You can make a hit record without talking about killing somebody else,” she added. However, Da Brat said young people support violent music they do not want it to change.
