July 16, 2001 – Thirty-nine percent of students in the Tri-State area believe violence is the biggest problem in America today, and three out of four say the United States needs stricter laws for gun buyers. These statements and more come from a tally of nearly 40,000 votes cast by students at more than 150 area schools at the National Liberty Museum. The Museum features two polling areas – for children younger than the voting age of 18 – where students' voices are heard on issues such as:

• Do you think there should be a death penalty?
  YES - 51.64% (20,499 votes)
  NO - 38.38% (15,237 votes)
  UNDECIDED - 9.98% (3,960 votes)
  
• Should students bringing weapons (guns, knives, etc.) into school be suspended?
  YES - 80.38% (31,942 votes)
  NO - 14.66% (5,825 votes)
  UNDECIDED - 4.96% (1,970 votes)
  
• Should owning a handgun be against the law?
  YES - 48.21% (17,790 votes)
  NO - 45.62% (16,837 votes)
  UNDECIDED - 6.17% (2,277 votes)
  
• Do we need stricter laws for gun buyers?
  YES - 75.89% (29,890 votes)
  NO - 17.64% (6,947 votes)
  UNDECIDED - 6.47% (2,547 votes)
  
• What do you think is the biggest problem in America today?
  VIOLENCE - 39.04% (14,182 votes)
  RACISM - 18.91% (6,868 votes)
  POVERTY - 16.08% (5,840 votes)
  POLLUTION - 8.46% (3,074 votes)
  HUNGER - 5.37% (1,952 votes)
  OTHER - 12.14% (4,512 votes)

The results provide a window into the thinking of school-aged children in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey over the last fifteen months. The voting stations are part of an overall education program used with thousands of young Museum visitors every week.