A report by the American Academy of pediatrics has revealed that 1,300 Children ages 17 and below die each year due to gun-related injuries while 5,790 are treated for gunshot wounds. The Academy sourced this data from the National Vital Statistics System as well as the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. The report also stated that boys, older children, and children from minority groups were the most affected. The report also found out that homicide rates from firearms are high among children from the south and midwest compared to rates in other parts of the country.
Deaths from homicide were mostly a result of crime and violence as well as family conflicts. Suicides through firearms are high in western states. A large number of suicides are due to relationship problems, according to the report.
Other findings of the report
According to the report, firearms were the third cause of deaths among children under 17. Children playing with guns was also a common cause of mortality. The report also revealed that 4.2 percent of children below the ages of 17 have witnessed a shooting in the past year. Boys account for 82 percent of all firearm deaths among children. For each girl that dies from gun homicide, four boys will die. When it comes to suicide, for each girl that commits suicide using a firearm, six boys will die from suicide, while 4.5 boys compared to one girl die from unintentional firearm deaths.
The report also stated that older children between ages 13 and 17 are 12 times more likely to die from gun injuries than those that are 12 years and younger. African American children had the highest rates of firearm mortality per 100,000 children: 4.1 per 100,000 children. The mortality rate for Native American children was 2.2, 0.8 for Hispanic children, while the mortality rate for White and Asian American children was 0.4 per 100,000 children.
Gun violence in the United States
According to the U.S National Research Council, more than 33,000 Americans die each year due to gun violence. 10 out of 100,000 U.S. citizens die each year due to gun-related violence while 23 are injured. 73,000 also receive non-fatal firearm injuries. Most deaths are due to homicide, suicides, as well as accidents.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found out that in the year 2010, 67 percent of homicides in the United States were committed using a firearm. In the year 2012, 64 percent of gun-related deaths were a result of suicides. The Urban Institute estimates that U.S taxpayers lose $516 million in healthcare-related costs as a result of gun deaths and injuries.
The Child Access Prevention laws were enacted in 27 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia in the year 2013. The law requires parents to store their firearms safely. The law also holds the parents liable if a child gains access to the parents' gun.
