Data from a recent study found 1,300 children die annually from gun injuries and another 5,790 children are treated for gunshot wounds, indicating a need for solutions to address the public health issue.
The study, published in Pediatrics, is the most comprehensive analysis of childhood gun-related injuries in deaths available to date. Researchers examined data from the National Vital Statistics System, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the National Violent Death Reporting System.
The analysis identified boys, older children and minorities as at the greatest risk for firearm injuries. Researchers also found unintentional gun deaths declined from 2002 to 2014 and gun homicides started to decline in 2007, but suicides by firearm have increased significantly from 2007 to 2014.
Gun homicides are most common in the South and Midwest. When involving younger children, gun homicides tended to be linked to larger shootings and involved familial conflict. When involving older children, gun homicides were more often linked to crime and violence. Gun suicides occur across the country, though rates are slightly higher in Western states, according to the study.
"Firearm injuries are an important public health problem, contributing substantially to premature death and disability of children. Understanding their nature and impact is a first step toward prevention," the authors concluded.
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