One cannot avoid all the news regarding recent multiple mass shootings. They are occurring with increasing and deadly regularity. Hopefully, next year’s legislative session will pass the much- needed bills to address this scourge.
Less known are facts on the horrible effects of gun violence on children and teens.
After car accidents, firearms were the second leading cause of death among American children and adolescents. Injuries and death from automobile crashes have actually declined in the last 20 years, and firearms fatalities have risen unabated. In the US, middle and high school age children are now more likely to die as a result of a firearm injury than from any other single cause of death. For Americans between the ages of 1 and 19, about half of these deaths are homicides, and another 38% are suicides; with the remaining due to unintentional injuries.
The US has endured 1,316 school shootings since 1970, with the most, 97, in 2018. These events are the focus of media attention but they account for the smallest proportion of deaths…just 1.2% of 5-18 year- olds. Gun violence occurs more regularly at other venues such as homes and playgrounds.
African-American children are more than eight times more likely to die from firearm homicide than any other race, and guns have been the leading cause of death for these youths for well over a decade. Firearm suicide rates are highest among native Americans/Alaskan Native and Caucasian children and teens.
Geographically, rates of death for children living in urban, rural and suburban areas are similar, BUT rural rates of firearm suicide and unintentional firearm injuries are four times higher than in urban communities. Meanwhile, firearm homicide rates are twice as high in urban areas.
Please remember these facts when people ask why we need firearms safety legislation ASAP.