Firearm-related deaths among children and teenagers in the United States have increased by an alarming 50% since 2019, making firearms the leading cause of death for youth for the third consecutive year. In 2023, 2,581 children aged 17 and under lost their lives to gun violence, translating to nearly four gun deaths per 100,000 youth—almost three times the number who died from drowning.
This surge in youth gun deaths disproportionately affects communities of color, with Black children experiencing a homicide rate more than eight times higher than their white counterparts. Advocates argue that implementing safe storage laws could be a critical measure to curtail this escalating crisis, as studies indicate that such laws may help lower rates of firearm suicides and accidental shootings among young people.
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