A report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found that firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States for the third consecutive year, with homicides being the primary cause of gun deaths in this age group. The report analyzed data from the CDC, revealing that over 48,000 people died from gun violence in 2022, with over 2,500 of those deaths being children and teens aged one to 17.
The report highlighted the rapid increase in gun violence in recent years and its impact on youth, with gun violence being called a “public health crisis” by health officials. The report also pointed out disparities in gun violence rates among different racial and ethnic groups, noting that Black and Latino youth are disproportionately affected by gun violence.
The report made several policy recommendations to address the issue of gun violence among youth, including strengthening Child Access Prevention laws, implementing firearm licensing laws with background checks, and removing firearms from those at risk of violence. The report emphasized the importance of these policies in reducing rates of gun violence, particularly among children and teenagers who are most vulnerable. Recent incidents, such as a shooting at a Georgia high school, have renewed calls for stricter gun laws and greater efforts to address the issue of gun violence in the United States.
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