大象传媒

	Derrick Bennett investigated illegal gun sales in London

Derrick began by telling Fred Dove gun crime is an issue in London. That nowadays kids are using guns to end arguments, rather than, for example, talking, using their fists or trying to deal with issues in other ways.

Guns have been around Derrick his whole life and he has had to make a conscious decision not to get involved - not even as a rebellious teenager. Derrick says he felt strongly that once you get into guns there is no going back.

The documentary came about because Derrick started work experience at the 大象传媒 and his Editor was interested in hearing about his experiences.

Derrick played the front role. They didn鈥檛 have a big crew; it was just Derrick and his producer with a camera. Derrick thought people might mistrust him and he was always honest that they were working for the 大象传媒 but Derrick still had a gun in his hand within 48 hours.

In his report Derrick speaks about receiving the gun, a submarine gun worth a couple of hundred pounds:

鈥淭he contact doesn鈥檛 want to appear on camera - but has agreed to the gun being filmed 鈥︹�鈥檓 amazed it鈥檚 wrapped in a plastic carrier bag with bullets included鈥鈥檓 surprised at how heavy it is. How can a child carry this - let alone pull the trigger?鈥�

Derrick was shocked at how easy it was to get guns. He also said in his report, struggling for words, that:

鈥淭he same bullets in my hand could have been the same bullets that they used to kill my friend.鈥�

In an unrelated incident Derrick鈥檚 friend was a victim of guns- shot dead whilst Derrick was making his documentary.

Derrick feels that a horrifying fact was that the person who shot his friend was under 18.

His friend鈥檚 death made Derrick more determined than ever to make the documentary succeed:

鈥淭o show parents you need to build a relationship with your children; so that you can understand what actually goes on and what they could possibly encounter on a daily basis out in the streets.鈥�

Derrick still lives in urban London so he hopes he can show people that they have options about what they do with their lives. Currently he sees kids who say that they are prepared to die 鈥� but sadly he feels they鈥檝e not even lived.

鈥淭he most important thing is life - let鈥檚 not forget that.鈥�