A new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions revealed that firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States for the third consecutive year. Homicides accounted for the majority of gun deaths among the age group, with over 2,500 children and teens between the ages of one and 17 dying by a firearm in 2022. Gun death rates among children and teens have increased by 106% since 2013, making gun violence a public health crisis and the leading cause of premature death for Americans.
The report also highlighted disparities across racial and ethnic groups, with Black and Latino youth being disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Additionally, the report noted a rise in gun violence incidents in schools, with 28 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths so far in 2024.
The report provided several policy recommendations to address the gun violence crisis among youth, including strengthening Child Access Prevention laws, implementing firearm licensing laws with background checks, and community violence intervention programs. These measures aim to reduce gun violence rates, particularly among children and teenagers, who are the most vulnerable to the impact of firearms. Recent incidents, such as a shooting at a Georgia high school, have reignited debates on gun violence and the need for stricter gun laws in the United States.
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