New research published in the journal Pediatrics finds that the percentage of Florida teenagers owning handguns has risen sharply from 3.7% to 6.0% over the past two decades, marking a 65% increase. Notably, the study highlights that middle school-aged girls and white students significantly contribute to this trend, prompting calls for targeted prevention strategies aimed at these demographics.
While the overall carrying of handguns has increased, the rate of handgun possession on school campuses has decreased by 60%, plummeting from 1.1% to 0.4%. This paradox raises questions about the impact of enhanced school safety measures and evolving attitudes towards gun carrying in educational environments. Given that firearms now lead as the primary cause of death among children and teens in the U.S., these findings underline the urgent need for continued investigation into the factors influencing firearm access among youth.
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