We do not have to look very far to find reasons for the explosion in the number of violent crimes committed by teenagers in the united states. not only are guns readily available to teenagers, but today's teenagers have grown up in a culture that glamorizes violence in television and films. the average child in the u. s. has seen more than 20,000 murders on television by the time he or she turns eighteen. is it any wonder that many of those children are now committing violent crimes themselves?