New data from the CDC highlights a disturbing trend in firearm-related deaths among children and teens, with Arkansas experiencing one of the sharpest rises in the nation. From 2020 to 2023, the state recorded a staggering 64% increase in gun deaths among children, climbing to 5.9 per 100,000. This alarming figure marks Arkansas as having the ninth-highest increase in the U.S., as firearms now represent the leading cause of death for youth aged 1–17.
The national picture is equally troubling, with 2,566 children lost to gun violence in 2023 alone, which translates to an average of seven child deaths daily. Notably, 84% of these fatalities involved boys, and homicides accounted for 63% of the deaths. In response to this public health crisis, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence a public health emergency, calling for immediate action to address this epidemic. The cover-up of youth gun violence continues to compel urgent discussions on policies needed to protect America’s most vulnerable.
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