A recent long-term study highlights conflicting trends in adolescent access to firearms, revealing a significant decrease in handgun carrying at schools while overall rates among teens have risen. Specifically, a survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that incidents of students carrying handguns in schools dropped by 60% over the last 20 years; however, the percentage of adolescents carrying handguns outside of school increased from 3.7% to 6% during the same period.
Experts cite cultural shifts and a lack of proper gun safety training as factors contributing to the increase in teens carrying firearms. Firearms instructor Chris Louissaint emphasizes that many youths do not receive adequate training, pointing to adults who leave guns unsecured as a key issue. With a growing number of teens gaining access to firearms, experts stress the need for responsible adult intervention in educating youth about gun safety practices.
Read full story at www.yahoo.com
