'Aimed at Us' podcast created by students to bring attention to gun violence
"Us as a youth have to worry about something that shouldn't be an option, shouldn't be something to be worried about," Briana Salazar said.
She is one of 16 young people behind the "Aimed at Us" podcast. It's set to air in November, bringing more attention to gun violence and its effect on New Mexicans, especially the younger population.
Salazar recalled a 2022 incident at West Mesa High School where she witnessed gun violence for the first time.
"One of them had a gun on them, and they started fighting, and unfortunately, one pulled a gun to the other male and killed him," Salazar said.
Incidents like this inspired her and her peers to create this podcast. The series will focus on accounts from other students who have witnessed gun violence or have been affected by it.
They also want to bring in lawmakers, law enforcement and even people who have committed gun violence to discuss the issue. Anyone interested in joining the podcast can .
"The name of the podcast is 'Aimed at Us' because the guns are aimed at them," said Miranda Viscoli with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.
Her organization is helping these kids get the podcast funded. She's stated in the past that gun violence is the leading cause of death among young people in New Mexico. With a platform like this, her hope is that their voices can make an impact in more ways than one.
"We've always said that the most important voice in the room are our young people, and the 'Aimed at Us' podcast does just that," Viscoli said. "It's their voice talking about an issue that concerns their well-being every single day of their lives."
