Tougher Gun Laws Do Mean Fewer American Kids Die
Source: Bloomberg News
BY REBECCA KLAR - 07/15/19 09:17 AM EDT
A new study puts numbers behind the argument that states with lax regulations see more firearm-related injuries among children.
By Michelle Cortez
July 15, 2019, 4:00 AM EDT
Children living in states with strict firearm laws are less likely to die from gun violence than those in states with more lax restrictions, according to a study in Pediatrics published Monday. The more rigorous the rules, the lower the risk, the researchers showed.
The U.S. has the highest rate of firearm-related deaths among children in high-income countries, as well as the highest rate of gun ownership and the loosest laws. The findings are part of a new wave of research into the impact of firearms on public health.
The National Rifle Association stirred the debate in November, telling doctors to “stay in their lane” after the publication of papers on reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the U.S.
The new results bolster the argument that gun restrictions may help avert some of the 4,250 deaths that occur each year among Americans under age 21, already the second leading cause of death in children after traffic accidents. States with stricter gun control laws had 4% fewer pediatric deaths, and those with universal background checks for firearm purchases in place for at least five years had a 35% lower risk, the study found.
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-15/tougher-gun-laws-do-mean-fewer-american-kids-die-study-shows?utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&cmpid=socialflow-facebook-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=facebook
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