A recent study published in The Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that states with more restrictive gun laws had lower rates of firearm-related suicides among children under the age of 18. However, these laws did not have an impact on child homicide rates. The study looked at 36 state gun laws and found that from 2009 to 2020, 6,735 children died by gun-related suicide and another 10,278 died by gun-related homicide.
The majority of children who died by suicide were white and male, while most of the children who died by homicide were Black. States with mandatory waiting periods and safe storage laws had lower child suicide rates, while states with “stand your ground” laws had higher suicide rates. Minimum age limits for possession or purchase of guns did not significantly reduce child suicide rates. There were no differences in child homicide mortality rates between states with firearm laws compared to those without such laws.
As Black children are disproportionately affected by gun-related homicides and face disparities in mental health care and law enforcement practices, researchers warn that strict firearm laws may inadvertently harm the very communities they are intended to protect. Lead author Krista Haines, an assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine, emphasized the need for more laws and controlled access to guns to address the high rates of child deaths in the United States.
Firearms became the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. in 2020 and have remained at the top spot since then. Firearm-related deaths among children increased by 13.5% between 2019 and 2020. Other leading causes of death among children include drowning, suffocation, and drug poisoning, which saw a 133% increase between 2011 and 2021.
The researchers believe that states with less restrictive gun laws may have more guns in circulation, increasing the likelihood that children will have access to guns. Stand your ground laws, intended to protect gun owners, were more prevalent in states with looser gun legislation. Negligent storage and waiting period laws, aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, were more common in states with stricter gun regulation. States without safe storage laws had the highest firearm-related deaths among children over the past 20 years, according to a previous study. Other research has also shown that lax gun laws lead to an increase in pediatric suicides.
Overall, the study highlights the complex relationship between gun laws and child mortality rates, with stricter laws potentially reducing gun-related suicides but not homicides. Researchers emphasize the need for targeted interventions and policies to address the disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black children and other vulnerable populations.
