The homicide rates used in this study were computed from a data tape obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As measured by the murder rate, American youth were less violent than American adults over the period studied, and teens were progressively less violent over this period, particularly black youth. Despite the decreases, however, American youth had a high homicide rate compared to youth in other industrial countries. The more adults used violence for either criminal purposes or legitimate purposes (such as corporal punishment in school, the higher the rate of youth violence. Suggestions for reducing violence among youth are to reduce or eliminate physical punishment in families and schools, abolish capital punishment, reduce violence in the mass media, and reduce the exaltation of militarism. 11 figures, 2 tables, 21 references.