A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals a troubling correlation between gun laws and pediatric deaths: states with permissive regulations have seen over 6,000 excess firearm-related fatalities among children and teens since 2011. Researchers found that while states with stricter laws maintained a steady death rate, those with lenient laws experienced a staggering 67% increase in fatalities compared to the previous decade.
According to Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine professor and study author, the data underscores the urgent need to examine effective legislative measures that could save young lives. With the alarming statistic that a child or teen is killed by gun violence in the U.S. every 2 hours and 48 minutes, the study emphasizes the potential impact of implementing stricter gun safety laws, such as child access prevention legislation, to reduce not only fatalities but also non-fatal injuries among youth.
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