A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that guns were the leading cause of death in the year 2020 among children and teens in the United States.
The study stated that individuals aged between 1-19 were more likely to die due to firearm incidents as compared to vehicle crashes, cancer or drug overdoses. According to reports, there were 4,300 deaths due to firearm injuries in 2020, which also witnessed a 29 percent rise from the previous year.
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This data was based on mortality data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Speaking to NBC News, one of the authors Jason Goldstick said “In the last 40 years, and almost certainly before that, this is the first time that firearm injuries have surpassed motor vehicle crashes among kids”
The data stated that most of the children killed by guns in 2020 were 14 years or older. Another similar study by the American College of Physicians stated that gun ownership had significantly increased during the lockdowns imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. The study also mentions that more than 5 million children below the age of 18 were exposed to guns between 2019 to 2021.
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In another study, data collected by Education Week has revealed that more children have been killed in American schools by guns in 2022 than US police officers have in the line of duty this year.
The school shooting in Texas brought America’s child death tally as a result of gun violence to 24 for 2022. The data site says there have been 27 school shootings in the US this year, which have resulted in 27 deaths and 56 injuries.
In comparison to this, 20 US police officers have been killed by direct gunfire in the line of duty in 2022.
These studies are coming to light after the recent shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The tragic shooting which claimed the lives of 21 people (2 adults, 19 children) has sparked a heated debate on gun safety and its accessibility in the United States. President Joe Biden expressed grief and visible anger during a speech while pushing for a “more rational” approach to gun regulation after the country’s latest mass shootings.
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