Austins "Swimming to Code" Camp fights teen gun violence amid rising city murder rates

In Austin, a city where summer usually heralds relaxation and respite, there’s a camp that’s infusing its recreational offerings with a dire educational mission: addressing the rise of gun violence among teens in Texas. As KXAN reports, in addition to teaching kids to swim and code, the “Swim to Code” camp spends time engaging its young participants with the growing concern about gun-related dangers. Nnamnse Ammons, the camp’s executive director, emphasizes the need to “bridge the gap” for kids from low-income backgrounds and expose them to experiences outside of the norm.

Parallel to the camp’s preventative initiatives, new data from the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), detailed by KVUE, underscores the severity of the problem. The report found a spike in Austin’s homicide rate involving firearms, with 80% of total homicides involved from January 2021 to December 2022, an increase that exceeds the Texas average. While homicide rates have declined over the past two years, concerns remain as 32% of homicide victims are under the age of 24 — a demographic that is similarly represented among suspects.

The immersive experience at Swim to Code focuses on deep understanding, with counselors answering tough questions like, “Have any of your friends ever been shot? Have you ever had a gun pointed at you?” Life Anew’s Sean Oliver said in a statement obtained by KXAN. His determination is evident in the belief that proactive community efforts can dramatically reduce incidents of gun violence in Austin. Additionally, the NICJR analysis, cited by KVUE, identified 13 different gangs as active participants in the city’s gun violence, fueling the need for tailored interventions that address the complexities of urban crime dynamics.

With both knowledge and water skills, Swim to Code hopes to extend its influence to nearly 2,000 children year-round, with the goal of lifting up and guiding youth away from the currents of violence. Such programs embody the local countermeasures amid reports like the NICJR’s, offering a beacon of proactive education in a landscape too often scarred by tragedy.