0:00:00 > 0:00:02My name is Christopher, and I am ten years old.
0:00:02 > 0:00:05I am one of America's youngest gun safety campaigners.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08No more killing!
0:00:08 > 0:00:10And I've got some big names supporting me.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12He's pretty extraordinary, I'd say.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15From Hollywood actress Julianne Moore
0:00:15 > 0:00:18to British rap artist Tinie Tempah.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19You're doing a good thing, man.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21- Just make sure you keep going. - Thank you.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25My older brother, Akeal, was shot dead five years ago.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27I miss everything about him.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Now, I'm on a mission
0:00:29 > 0:00:33to discover why guns are such a big part of American life.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34I love guns.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38I think I was around five when I started training on my dad's lot.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40# Put the guns down Put the guns down. #
0:00:40 > 0:00:42And to find out what I can do to make the streets safer.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Have you experienced gun violence? Like, do you see it?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Yeah, I see that a lot, especially where I live.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50We can end gun violence. Amen.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51APPLAUSE AND CHEERS
0:01:16 > 0:01:17Got him.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Got him.
0:01:19 > 0:01:20OK, OK, OK.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25I won! 33-9.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Christopher.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Why are you not ready?
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Oh, OK, OK.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34You told me you were about to brush your teeth, Christopher.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35OK. I'll get dressed.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37This kid is unbelievable.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Today is a very big day for me.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41What I'm going to be doing is
0:01:41 > 0:01:44I'm going to be walking across the Brooklyn Bridge,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48and I'm going to be giving a speech on gun violence.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52I would like to not worry about who else is going to die.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57I don't want to screw up. My oldest brother, Akeal,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00was killed in 2012, when he was 15.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04I want to stop other families going through a tragedy like this.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06He was going to a graduation party...
0:02:08 > 0:02:11..and then he was walking home with his cousin,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13and then four shots had been fired,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16and one of them hit on the back of his head.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20We think a gang shot at Akeal and his friends,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23mistaking them for another gang.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28He was always a kind, sweet brother to me.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33He used to always do anything with me. Even if he's tired,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37he used to take me to the basketball, to play basketball.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42I miss everything about him.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49So, what I'm going to do now is put on my brother's bracelet.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51He gave me this before he died.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53It's very special to me now.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55It makes me happy.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Every year, families like mine,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00who have lost someone they love to gun violence,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04walk across the Brooklyn Bridge demanding the government does more
0:03:04 > 0:03:05to keep us safe.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Famous people like the Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore support us.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12She has starred in lots of big films,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14like Hunger Games: Mockingjay.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- CROWD CHANT:- What do we want? - Gun sense!- When do we want it?- Now!
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- We can!- End the violence!
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Not one more!
0:03:28 > 0:03:30It made me feel exciting, saying, "Not one more,"
0:03:30 > 0:03:33or, "Put the gun down," because it represents us and Akeal,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35and our family.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42Akeal was just one of more than 30,000 people killed
0:03:42 > 0:03:43by guns in 2012.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Around the same number are killed every year in America.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51And the country's leaders never seem to do anything about it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:52It's crazy.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54It's something that affects us all.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57It's an issue for everybody in the United States.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59But if adults can't sort it out,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01maybe it's time for us kids to get things done.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05I'm marching to end gun violence.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09We need to protest, and we need to really make a difference together.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15As the march comes to an end, my big moment is here.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17I am never nervous.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19I know I can do it and my whole family know I can do it,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22so they gave me the confidence to know I can do anything
0:04:22 > 0:04:25if I put my mind to it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Good afternoon, everyone.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29- CROWD:- Good afternoon.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Every day in America, 93 people die from gun violence.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I have sat and watched as the gun lobby has made this
0:04:37 > 0:04:38about their rights.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I say to everyone, what about my rights?
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Don't I deserve to grow up?
0:04:42 > 0:04:43APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Let me hear you say we can end gun violence.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52We can end gun violence.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We can end gun violence!
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Thank you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04He's pretty extraordinary, I'd say.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08He's pretty young to be packing all this eloquence
0:05:08 > 0:05:09in this one little body, right?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The thing that's most impressive to me is that he suffered
0:05:12 > 0:05:14a tremendous loss and shows up and talks about it
0:05:14 > 0:05:17in a way that's incredibly moving. It makes a difference to me,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20I'll tell you that. You should be very proud of yourself.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- Thank you.- OK, you were great today.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Can I give you a kiss?
0:05:28 > 0:05:30I think the march went great,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32and Julianne's support for the mothers who lost children
0:05:32 > 0:05:33has been amazing.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36But this is my fourth year doing it,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39and guns are killing just as many people as before.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42So, I need to figure out, what more can I do?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46- Ready to play?- Yeah, you ready to play?
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- Watch the game?- I'm mad about basketball,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and I also practice with my other brother, Rashawn.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53Are you ready to start?
0:05:56 > 0:05:59It's the same park Akeal used to bring me to.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Oh, my God...
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I've come up with my first idea about how to get kids
0:06:07 > 0:06:08to help my campaign.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I want to see what Rashawn thinks of it.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16What I'm planning to is have 500 postcards, right...
0:06:17 > 0:06:21..and then let kids sign the postcards
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and then we're going to send it to the White House,
0:06:24 > 0:06:28send them postcards, and postcards, and postcards.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I hope it will send a strong message to our government
0:06:31 > 0:06:34that America's kids want more action to stop gun violence.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I think that's a good idea.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Thank you. All right, so what do you want to do now?
0:06:40 > 0:06:41Go play some more basketball?
0:06:41 > 0:06:46- Are you ready to lose again? - Yeah. All right.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Come on.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57In my neighbourhood in Brooklyn,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01there's a mural I like about ending gun violence.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05And what I see in this picture is the effect of keeping having a gun
0:07:05 > 0:07:07in their hand. Like, people dying.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Just like my brother died.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14And what I see over here is a kid throwing all the guns away,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18and he's putting them in the fire so he can burn them,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21so nobody can use a gun, and I really respect that.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25But there are over 300 million guns in America.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27That's about as many guns as people.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33It's because of a law called the Second Amendment.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36It meant every responsible adult has the right to own a gun.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42So, I don't think campaigning to get rid of guns is going to work.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46To help me find out what else I can do,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I'm meeting some local campaigners called Yo SOS.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Just like me, many here have been affected by gun violence.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Around when I was six or seven years old, I had a birthday party,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02and, unfortunately, there was a shoot out.
0:08:02 > 0:08:03I was almost shot.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I was eight years old at the time.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And a person who I know and love got shot.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11So, after that day I said, you know what,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14I vowed to, like, stop gun violence on the street.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17What message would you want to send on gun violence?
0:08:17 > 0:08:22When shootings happen it's because people don't have nothing to do,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26so if we had our own centre for basketball and for table tennis
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and for studio time in each neighbourhood,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31maybe it wouldn't happen as much,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33because people will have something to do.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36ALL: Three, two, one, action!
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Yo SOS invite me to see a play that they made up for their campaign
0:08:42 > 0:08:44to make the local streets safer.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49It's to warn young people about the dangers of carrying guns.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51You was the boy talking all night on Facebook?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- Yeah, why, what happened?- All right, cos I've seen that,
0:08:54 > 0:08:55and now I'm about to get you.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00Basically, the play is a compilation of all our experiences,
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and everything is a chain reaction.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04You ain't got nothing.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09There's a party where two people from different gangs
0:09:09 > 0:09:11get into an altercation.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15GUNSHOT
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I got hit! Ya'll ain't going to help me?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23At the end, the audience get the chance to take part,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26re-running scenes to see if they can prevent the shooting.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28From the party scene.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Anybody want to come up on stage so they can change what happens?
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Yes, OK.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I volunteered because they could have handled the situation
0:09:39 > 0:09:42very better. What I was trying to do was
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I was trying to back away from the situation.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Everybody was having a good time.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51No need to fight or shoot. It was a fun party.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- What's going on here?- I got the tool here in my pocket.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- He wants to get it. - No need to argue.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03I really liked it because it actually helped me learn
0:10:03 > 0:10:06how to handle a situation better.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- See, this kid, you...- I'm about to get him.- No, no need for that.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11APPLAUSE
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I don't think you need to do that.
0:10:13 > 0:10:14- All right.- Yeah, yeah.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21If they would just listen and be respectful,
0:10:21 > 0:10:22nobody would have got hurt.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31OK, so today I'm very excited because I'm going to a block party,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and I'm going to have so much fun.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35But also, I'm launching my new campaign
0:10:35 > 0:10:37for my brother, Akeal Christopher.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56# To the beat
0:10:56 > 0:10:58# Just bop your head to the beat
0:10:58 > 0:11:00# If you don't wanna dance to the beat. #
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Yo SOS holds a party every year to highlight the need
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to make our streets safer, and it's inspiring
0:11:06 > 0:11:09to find other campaigning kids, like Jaishir.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Come on up here, my brother. Represent for the youth.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17# I'm a black brother and I got a dream
0:11:17 > 0:11:20# My mother always told me I had something to do
0:11:20 > 0:11:22# And that's tough
0:11:22 > 0:11:24# Put the guns down, put the, put the guns down
0:11:24 > 0:11:27# Put the guns down, put the, put the guns down. #
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Did you experience gun violence? Or, like, did you see it?
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Yeah, I see it a lot, especially where I live.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Like, when I go outside,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37I see a whole bunch of stuff like drug dealing,
0:11:37 > 0:11:38guns, fighting and all that.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And that's what makes me try to stop the gun violence
0:11:42 > 0:11:45by rapping and doing the things I do.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47# Put the guns down, put the, put the guns down. #
0:11:47 > 0:11:51For the past few years, I've seen mothers losing their child,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and it's sad for them to lose their child.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57My mom's like... Sometimes, she cries on her bed,
0:11:57 > 0:11:58so I try to cheer her up.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05The next performer, DJ Annie Red, is an anti-bullying campaigner.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I can't believe she's only eight,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16and she's been speaking out since she was six.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19There's a lot of kids who bullied me because of my voice,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21and they kept saying, "You sound like a boy,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23"and you're a boy," but I'm not.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25I'm a girl, and I have the right to be that.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31She performs her own campaign song all over New York.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33# No you won't No you won't bully me
0:12:33 > 0:12:36# No you won't Because you want to be like me
0:12:36 > 0:12:38# Sticks and stones Do break bones
0:12:38 > 0:12:41# But words are true and they make you grow. #
0:12:41 > 0:12:45What tips would you give me if I wanted to get my message out?
0:12:45 > 0:12:52Erm, I think, like, any event in your local area, go there.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55You never know who's going to be there. My mom always tells me that.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56# No you won't No you won't bully me
0:12:56 > 0:12:58# No you won't No you won't bully me
0:12:58 > 0:13:02# No you won't think you're better than me
0:13:02 > 0:13:03# No you won't. #
0:13:03 > 0:13:06You usually find somebody who wants you for another event
0:13:06 > 0:13:08and another event, because other people get to hear your message,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10and they'll spread it even more.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12# No you wont No you won't bully me
0:13:12 > 0:13:15# No you won't Because you want to be like me. #
0:13:18 > 0:13:21CHEERING
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Finally, it's my turn.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29I'm here today because I have started a campaign,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31and I need help from the kids.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42So, I'm going to give you this card so you can send it
0:13:42 > 0:13:44to the White House.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46I'll definitely do that, cos I like what you're doing.
0:13:52 > 0:13:5515, 16, 17...
0:13:56 > 0:13:59At the back of it, you could put your feelings on,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01like, gun violence.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Thank you, thank you.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06..46, 47, 48, 49, 50.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12That's the first 50 kids' messages on the way to the White House.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15And the Yo SOS has been a big help.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19The thing I learned most is that I've got to get kids more activities
0:14:19 > 0:14:22to do so they can stay off the streets and stay away from gangs.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Today, I'm a bit nervous.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32I'm travelling to Philadelphia for my first ever visit to a gun range.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35I was going to say it would be I'm eye-opener,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37but that's maybe not a good way to put it
0:14:37 > 0:14:40after what happened to me last night.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I was playing basketball with some of my friends.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44I tried to get the rebound,
0:14:44 > 0:14:49but somebody's elbow hit my eye, and made my eye get swollen.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54It is normal. It happens to basketball players.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- Are you going to keep playing?- Yes.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I've come to check out a gun education project
0:15:10 > 0:15:12called Black Guns Matter.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20It's run by hip-hop artist, Maj Toure.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23You have the human right to defend yourself.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Period. Point Blank.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28With that right comes a huge responsibility.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The course teaches kids how dangerous different guns can be.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33But it makes me uncomfortable.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Why do you have kids around guns?
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Well, for one, a firearm is a tool, and because it is tool,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45we want to make sure that people are learning from a very young age that
0:15:45 > 0:15:46this tool is to be respected.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48This is not something to play with,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51this is not something that looks cool for the movies.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54People's family members are losing their lives because people are
0:15:54 > 0:15:56misinformed and playing around,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58thinking it's a video game.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Like, you're going to shoot somebody,
0:16:00 > 0:16:01and there's no reset button.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Any kid that wants to gets a chance to go on the range with the
0:16:04 > 0:16:08instructors and see what it's like to fire a gun.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14A lot of times, you'll hear people go, "Oh, well, totally, guns are
0:16:14 > 0:16:15"bad, guns are bad, guns are bad."
0:16:15 > 0:16:18A butter knife can be bad in the wrong person's hands.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Today, it's going to be just a heavy emphasis on safety.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Have a space where people understand what not to do with firearms.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Seeing kids firing guns is shocking to me, and in Britain,
0:16:29 > 0:16:31where guns are much more rare,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34I can only imagine how disturbing it must look to you.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35We're on target, OK?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Shooting the gun is a scary.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- It's a lot of power. - Excellent, good shot.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43I think I would do it more times.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I see why you've got to be prepared to have a gun,
0:16:46 > 0:16:47or why you've got to be trained.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Good, good. All the way up in front of you.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55We learned the correct way how to hold the gun as you shoot it,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57and we learned the safety rules.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00I think it was both exciting and a little scary.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02The noise was scary, but it was fun.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07Black Guns Matter also campaign to stop people thinking
0:17:07 > 0:17:09every black person with a gun is in a gang.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Maj says all American families have a right to protect themselves.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19By showing people that every black man or a black woman with a firearm
0:17:19 > 0:17:22is not a thug, a criminal, that does break that stereotype
0:17:22 > 0:17:24and change their perceptions.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29Some cops, like, they think black kids just are criminals and stuff,
0:17:29 > 0:17:33so, like, a white cop would think a black kid
0:17:33 > 0:17:37was about to do something wrong with just the way how they look,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40or the way how they dress or something.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41It's a thin line there.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44There's a small portion of those guys that are doing that.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I'm really glad I've seen the course,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53but I'm in two minds about kids getting a go on a range.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59It good to know the safety and learn how to respect a gun,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02but it's bad that kids are using a gun because, like,
0:18:02 > 0:18:03who has a kid using a gun?
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Because a kid could get hurt.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10I'd rather an adult was mature enough to use a gun than a kid.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12# Got the heart of Bear Grylls
0:18:12 > 0:18:13# Mind of a boss
0:18:13 > 0:18:17# Need a brand new Supremes diva like Diana Ross. #
0:18:17 > 0:18:19I got some great news for my campaign.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22The British artist Tinie Tempah wants to support it.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31Tinie is huge, with a platinum album and six UK number ones,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and he's always spoken out against gang violence.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37He video calls me on his way to his concert.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42It really makes me sad to think of all the lost souls, you know,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45that are coming out of council estates that could have gone on
0:18:45 > 0:18:47to do so many amazing things,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49and they didn't even have the chance to finish school, you know,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51let alone live their adult life.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57One of Tinie's first ever tracks was a campaign song in 2006
0:18:57 > 0:19:00to stop gang deaths on London streets.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Called Put The Knives And Guns Down,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07it was a tribute to a talented young soccer player
0:19:07 > 0:19:09killed in North London.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Well, there was a guy called Kiyan who had just been stabbed,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18and he played for Queens Park Rangers, right, and he was under 16,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and he was about to go and do really well.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Kiyan was 16, the same age as Akeal,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28when he was stabbed trying to stop another boy being bullied.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It was just one of the saddest things ever.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36I'm campaigning to stop young people falling into gang culture.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- What is your advice?- What I would say to any young person is
0:19:39 > 0:19:42if you don't want to live a cliche,
0:19:42 > 0:19:47stereotypical life with a very inevitable end, then, you know,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50is that really the path you should go down?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Because it's very clear what happens.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Thank you for your time.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57That's all good, bro. Any time.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00And well done to you, bro. You're doing a good thing, man.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02- Just make sure you keep going. - Thank you.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Tinie has really inspired me.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07A big part of my campaign will definitely be
0:20:07 > 0:20:09to stop kids joining gangs.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16But I'm still not sure what I feel about so many Americans owning guns.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21I've been invited to meet a family from a very different world to mine.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23They shoot guns for sport.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26As you guys can see, this is my AR-15.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30This is the one that I custom built. And then this is my newest one,
0:20:30 > 0:20:35this is my Glock 34 Combat Master, which I think is pretty cool.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Aged 12, Shyanne is one of America's best young shooters.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It is fun, entertaining, interesting.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45You learn a whole bunch of new things every day
0:20:45 > 0:20:48that you are shooting a gun.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56My ambition for my life right now is to win a national title
0:20:56 > 0:21:00before I'm 18. And I only have a certain amount of time
0:21:00 > 0:21:04to get that done, because I'm almost 13, so...
0:21:04 > 0:21:07I think it could be a little bit awkward meeting Shyanne...
0:21:07 > 0:21:08Nice to meet you.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10..I'm not sure we have a lot in common.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14I love guns. I mean, I've been around them since I was...
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Since I can remember.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I think I was around five when I started training on my dad's lot.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22What's your point of view towards guns?
0:21:22 > 0:21:26I don't like guns. Well, I think kids should learn how to use a gun,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29but not, like, have a gun in your hand yet.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31OK. I can agree with you somewhat on that,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34cos if kids don't have the proper training,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37then I wouldn't want them to have their hands on a gun either,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39because then it can be dangerous.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Wow.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Like her dad, Shyanne is a campaigner in favour of guns.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50That was like six or seven rounds.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52I can open up the page.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59If everybody that was good in the world could carry a gun with them,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01then they would have a way to defend themselves,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05because the bad guys are always going to try and find a way
0:22:05 > 0:22:06- to grab a gun.- I don't agree.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10I think carrying guns just leads to more violence.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13But even though Shyanne and I have lots of different opinions,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15she has a surprise for me.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16I'd like to support your campaign,
0:22:16 > 0:22:21so I will try everything that I can do, whilst staying with my beliefs.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27You could help, like, kids and adults, even adults,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31learn how to use a gun properly, and I could teach them, like,
0:22:31 > 0:22:36the ways how people can get affected from guns.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Right. I think that's a good plan, and I think it would be really,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44really helpful, if we became a team and did that.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45What's your number?
0:22:47 > 0:22:51I got along way better with Shyanne than I thought I would.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Even though we will never agree on everything.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- OK, let's go and get some water. - I'm so tired.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04And now I know the three most important things for my campaign.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07First thing, giving kids gun safety education.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Second thing, getting money for activities for young people.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Third thing, persuading kids to stay away from gangs.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21The media are surprised that Shyanne and I are working together.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25They are so used to adults from our two worlds arguing with each other.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27You guys formed a good friendship here?
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- Yes.- Yep.- We appear on a programme podcast.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35We should know how to respect the guns, and the rules and the safety.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38My man, I am very impressed with what you just said.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41And we're also invited onto BBC radio,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43who interview us in a link up from London.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48One of our plans is to go to schools and even communities to talk to them
0:23:48 > 0:23:53about, like, gun safety and be safe with a firearm.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Live from ITV Studios in London...
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Then I get a call from a TV show in the UK.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Presenter Piers Morgan has heard about my campaign
0:24:02 > 0:24:06and wants to bring me and my mom over to Britain
0:24:06 > 0:24:08to be on the programme.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Good morning.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12I've never travelled outside America before.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15First passport, first international trip to the UK.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22This is incredible. Look at that.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25London is so different to New York.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Look over there. - Could you live here?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Yes. I like it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Wow.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38I didn't know London had all this stuff.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39This bridge is big.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Close your mouth!
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Natasha Christopher.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03I feel good about doing this today,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06because I'm looking forward to meeting Piers Morgan,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09and I'm excited to learn that Shyanne is going to be joining us
0:25:09 > 0:25:11live from America.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14You can breathe, don't worry.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15You can breathe.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Well, he may only be ten years old,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34but Christopher has become known for his passionate speeches against guns
0:25:34 > 0:25:35in the United States.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39What impact did it have on you?
0:25:39 > 0:25:43You were only five when your big brother was shot and killed.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49It led me to become an advocate, because I was hurt inside,
0:25:49 > 0:25:54so my mom took my pain and anger and turned it into action,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58because I really respond better, so...
0:25:58 > 0:25:59And...
0:26:03 > 0:26:08- And you're here with your mum, Natasha.- Hello.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11For the first time in quite a while, I get really emotional.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Well, he's done an amazing job in raising this issue around America.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20As you know, there's another view in America.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24From her home in North Carolina, we can now speak to Shyanne.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27When you hear this young man, who lost his brother,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29where can you come together with him?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32It's simply gun safety.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35They need to know what to do, when to do it,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and how to handle a gun appropriately.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43Me and Shyanne started to talk about campaigning around estates,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and neighbourhoods and communities.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49To tell them, like, how guns can affect people...
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I managed to recover and get my points across.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57Well, keep up the good work, young man, you're doing a great job.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I was kind of crying because I miss my brother,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01but I had a great experience on television.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04You were brilliant. Let me take your microphone back.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08I got to talk about gun violence, something that I'm passionate about.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09- Great job.- Lovely.- Thank you.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- You spoke really well.- Thank you.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12You should be proud.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17It's early days for my gun safety campaign,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21but I'm really pleased with the impact it's having so far,
0:27:21 > 0:27:25and I really enjoyed getting to know so many inspiring kids,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28especially ten-year-old anti-gun rapper Jaishir,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32eight-year-old campaigner DJ Annie Red,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34and top 12-year-old shooter Shyanne.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Even though me and Shyanne don't agree on all things,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40together we're stronger.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I think it shows if kids from different backgrounds
0:27:43 > 0:27:45can work together, we can all make a difference.