Written by Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson, Founder of Be Someone Inc. | 11 March 2013

According to the U.S. government itself, there are an estimated 300 million guns in the United States. So is gun control the real answer to the violence taking place today? Of course not! The answer lies not in the weapon, but in the mindset of the person. As humans interact, we hope they see each other as equals and wish no harm on anyone. This is the mindset that would lead to peace. Unfortunately, that is not being properly taught to our children.

Firearms are not killing people; it is the people who want to do bad things that are killing. We have a strong survival instinct and we will act as needed to save our lives. If individuals are put in a situation where they are threatened and cornered, feeling they must do harm or be harmed, there will be violence.

Gun control cannot and will not change anything until the mindset has been changed for the better. Let us strive to teach and promote peace and love. Let's instill these traits into our children now before we destroy ourselves. This is no easy task but we must get to work before there is more needless loss of life from the violence that surrounds us.

The daily headlines remind us of the violence that is threatening to destroy our communities. Removal of weapons does not deter this, for time and again we have seen the mind create another weapon as an alternative. Restrictions on any weapon only allow alternative weapons to be developed into more efficient killing means, thus the harm does not end, it only changes. If I am a violent person, I will use whatever means available to me to satisfy my violent nature. If a gun is available, yes I will use it. I also can use a baseball bat, a knife, a hammer or a vehicle. If no other weapon is available, Iwill use my hands.

Thus, we must understand putting stress on any system will increase the chances of violence. How do we change that? There is only one way and that comes with an early life mindset change. If a person is taught violence or is associated with violence and killing at an early age, chances are that person will grow up to be violent. On the other hand, if a person is taught love, peace and mutual respect from the beginning, that person will likewise follow his early childhood teachings and grow into a kind, peace-loving, respectful, nonviolent adult. A child's mind is like a computer. What goes in their mind stays there. Some learn to work around the violence they experience and become productive members of society.

The chances are great that many more won't and may become burdens on society. Be mindful of what your child is being taught, especially in school and in their various environments! The only way to reduce violence is to reach every individual with the knowledge that violence is not the answer. We must change the culture of violence before it destroys us and steals our children's futures. It's time to get to work! Orrin Hudson is the founder of Be Someone Inc, a life-changing program that uses the game of chess to teach that for every choice we have in life there is a relating consequence.

He has taught thousands of children that they can be a productive, contributing, successful citizen by making the right moves in their the lives. You can find out more about Hudson, who was once an at-risk young person, at www.besomeone.org