Reducing violence and building safe communities requires collaborative and comprehensive planning. A prevention approach to juvenile delinquency and youth gun violence is needed that includes a commitment to early intervention, a strong focus on law enforcement, and a comprehensive system of graduated sanctions. Several programs to reduce young people's access to guns have been initiated by individuals and organizations across the United States. These programs fall into the categories of legislation, research, technological and environmental changes, Federal law enforcement, prevention programs, and intervention programs. Gun violence reduction legislation deals with both firearm availability and societal norms to reduce crime and violence. Recent Federal gun control legislation includes the Youth Handgun Safety Act and the Gun-Free Schools Act. Research on gun deaths affecting both adult and juvenile populations is extensive, and most studies of youth and guns focus on homicide, suicide, or accidental death by firearms. Research is also available on the context of youth gun violence, gun availability, drugs and firearms, criminal behavior, and maladjusted youth. Explanations for the increase in youth gun violence are offered. Preventive solutions are suggested that encompass appropriate service delivery, working with witnesses to violence, public education, fear reduction, making guns safer, reducing gun availability, law enforcement, and drug treatment and prevention. The role of technological and environmental interventions in reducing youth gun violence and the role of Federal law enforcement are addressed. 66 references