America’s Youth Under Fire: The Crisis of Gun Violence

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America has an epidemic on their hands when it comes to gun violence and death amongst our youth. In the United States, gun violence has become a leading threat to the lives of children. Every year, thousands of young lives are cut short by firearms in their homes, their schools, and their neighborhoods. According to recent studies, gun deaths among children ages 1 to 17 have surged by over 100% since 2013, with firearms now standing as the number one cause of death for American youth since 2020. These aren’t just numbers, they represent dreams that will never be realized, milestones that will never be celebrated, and families left shattered by unbearable loss. The reality is clear, no child should have to grow up in constant fear of being caught in the crossfire. Yet, in America, far too many do. 

A recent Johns Hopkins study highlights a devastating reality. Gun deaths among children ages 1 to 17 have surged by 106% since 2013. Since 2020, firearms have tragically become the leading cause of death for this age group in the United States.

John Hopkins Report: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2024-09/2022-cgvs-gun-violence-in-the-united-states.pdf

A brief written in KFF explores the impacts of gun violence on children ages 17 years and younger. 

KFF Link to exploring the brief: https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-and-adolescents/#footnote-612901-1