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Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news \u2014 make a <\/em>quick donation<\/em><\/a> to Truthout today! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anewly published study finds that pediatric deaths due to gun violence in the U.S. have dramatically increased over the past decade, with researchers noting that not enough is being done to address the horrifying trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study<\/a>, authored by Rebekah Mannix and Mark Neuman, pediatric emergency medicine physicians at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital, as well as by Cordelia Mannix, Rebekah Mannix\u2019s high school-aged daughter, found that 2,590 people under the age of 18 died due to firearm-related incidents in 2021. That number was an 87 percent increase<\/a> from the 1,311 who died due to firearms in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around two-thirds of the deaths were homicides, while around 30 percent were suicides, the study found<\/a>. Those rates are consistent with other studies that arrived at similar numbers, with a smaller percentage being attributed to accidental discharge of firearms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study also analyzed other causes of premature death in children, and found that vehicular fatalities \u2014 once the most common type of premature death among kids \u2014 had declined significantly over the past 10 years. The decrease was attributable to an increase in preventive changes taken on car safety over that time, including changes to state laws on booster seats, the standardization of airbags in most vehicles, and other actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, \u201cthe opposite is happening with firearms,\u201d said the study\u2019s lead author, Rebekah Mannix<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s just getting worse, and kids are dying at higher rates from firearms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gun deaths of children increased by over 40 percent between 2018 and 2021. By\u00a0Sharon Zhang<\/a>\u00a0,\u00a0TRUTHOUT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n August 28, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mannix emphasized<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a society, we\u2019ve done a great job at targeted interventions. But what we\u2019ve missed is that the most lethal means of injury are still incredibly accessible to kids.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death in children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni Gross, the medical director of the emergency department at Children\u2019s Hospital New Orleans, told The New York Times<\/em><\/a> <\/em>that the trend could change if the gun industry took proactive measures to prevent gun violence. However, the industry \u201chas not signed on to making safety modifications,\u201d including fingerprint identification on firearms, that could limit the number of child deaths per year, Gross said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A separate analysis<\/a> of firearm-related deaths in children, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in August, suggested that the number of pediatric firearm deaths is much higher, with around 4,752 children dying from a firearm in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is undoubtedly one of our chief public health crises in this country,\u201d Chethan Sathya, lead author of the study and pediatric trauma surgeon in New York, said at the time of its publication. \u201cThe most likely reason that your child will die in this country is at the hands of a firearm. That\u2019s not acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re a first-time visitor or a long-time reader, we appreciate you taking the time to read Truthout<\/em>. If you found value in what you read today, we need your help.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Truthout<\/em> is going through a challenging time as nonprofit donations have declined across the board in 2023. News media organizations across the country are closing or laying off staff almost every week. But we\u2019re absolutely determined to make it through this painful moment \u2013 because without Truthout<\/em>, who else would publish the piece you read today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to Truthout<\/em>. If you want to take your support further, a monthly gift is one of the best ways to strengthen our work. Thank you in advance for anything you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n about:blankThis article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)<\/a>, and you are free to share and republish under the terms of the license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CHRIS WALKER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chris Walker is a news writer at Truthout<\/em>, and is based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Focusing on both national and local topics since the early 2000s, he has produced thousands of articles analyzing the issues of the day and their impact on the American people. He can be found on Twitter: @thatchriswalker<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death in children. By Chris Walker, TRUTHOUT Published October 5, 2023 (truthout.org) Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news \u2014 make a quick donation to Truthout today! Anewly published study finds that pediatric deaths due to gun violence in the U.S. have dramatically increased over the past… Continue reading RELATED STORY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGuns Killed a Record Number of Children in the US in 2021<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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