All articles tagged with #firearm injuries
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that states with more permissive gun laws experienced a significant increase in firearm-related deaths among children and teens from 2011 to 2023, highlighting the importance of stricter gun regulations to prevent these preventable tragedies.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that the rate of firearm fatalities among children under 18 in the United States has increased by 87% from 2011 to 2021, making firearm injuries the leading cause of accidental death in children. In 2021, 2,590 children and teenagers died from firearm injuries, up from 1,311 in 2011. The study also highlights the rise in drug poisonings and suffocations among children. While progress has been made in protecting children from car accidents, the opposite is happening with firearms, with children dying at higher rates. The firearm industry has not embraced safety modifications, and research consistently shows that having a firearm in the home raises the risk of gun death. State laws that promote firearm safety have been found to reduce suicide rates.
Shootings in the US are becoming more lethal, with a record number of people dying from firearm injuries. About 57% of firearm fatalities in 2021 occurred at the scene of the shooting, up 9% since 1999. The shift towards military-grade, higher lethality weapons, such as the AR-15, is a key factor. Nearly 4% of firearm homicides in 2021 involved a rifle, killing 447 people. More and better data on gun violence is needed to understand the true scope of America's gun epidemic. Experts suggest limiting magazine capacity and access to high-caliber weapons as a solution.