Guns and Child Deaths in America
The latest data on firearms and childhood homicides and suicides as yet another child is shot dead
A man with an AR-style assault rifle allegedly shot and killed several of his neighbors in a small Texas town Saturday after they’d asked him to stop shooting the gun in his yard, due to the noise. At least one child, age 8, is among the dead. Last month, three children were among those killed in a mass shooting at a Nashville school. The tragedies are part of an increase in U.S. kids being killed by guns, often at home or at school.
Almost exactly one year ago, I reported on two new studies about guns and rising child deaths in the United States, including reactions from researchers, pediatricians and other doctors explaining what’s behind what they see as a child health crisis and what can be done.
Today, as yet another child is shot dead, I’m reporting on three recent studies that offer additional statistics on the topic, all presented as concisely as possible and without adjectives, analysis or opinions, so readers can make what they will of the findings.
First, from last year:
- In the journal Pediatrics, scientists reported that guns now kill more U.S. children than car crashes, cancer, drugs or any other single cause.
