My name is Cody Hill. I am an eighth-grade student at Jackson Middle School. I maintain a 4.0 GPA and live in southwest Portland. Even though I am not considered at risk, guns have affected my life -- just like they are affecting the lives of kids all across the country.

When I was in fourth grade a woman came into my school (Buckman Elementary) and shot at the secretary. Although no one was hurt, it was terrifying that someone with a gun could come into a school and shoot somebody.

In 1996, I was in Atlanta, Georgia with my family. While I was standing in front of a candle store, a man walked into the store and pulled out a gun. A woman yelled, "Oh, my God, don't!" The man shot her three times. I witnessed the whole thing and will never forget it for the rest of my life.

I want kids to know that no matter what they see on TV and video games, and no matter how cool toy guns look, guns are not fun. There are better games to play.

My program is not about gun control. It is about taking a stance that guns and kids don't mix...there is nothing fun about a gun. If kids learn that from an early age, maybe some of the killing will stop. I'd like to help that happen.

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