According to John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens. In the U.S., gun death rates (among children ages 1-17) have increased by 106 percent since 2013 and have been the leading cause of death among this group since 2020. In 2022, in the 1 to 17 age group, Black children and teens had a gun death rate 18 times higher than that of white children in the same age group.1
The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) recently developed a Gun Violence Prevention Blueprint that offers practical resources for critical conversations around gun violence prevention planning in schools. The PTA advocates for all students and educators to have a right to attend schools that are safe and conducive to learning and achievement. However, schools are experiencing increasingly frequent incidents that are having a devastating, long-term impact on students, parents, educators and the community.2
Other key findings from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health article:1
- Firearms accounted for nearly a third of all deaths among 15- to 17-year-olds
- From 2013 to 2022, the rates of gun suicide among Black youth ages 10 to 17 tripled and, for Hispanic youth ages 10 to 17, more than doubled
- Over half—55 percent—of deaths among Black older teens ages 15 to 17 in 2022 were caused by guns
- In 2022, the gun homicide rate among Black female teens and young adults ages 15–34 was nine times higher than that of their white female counterparts
- Across all age groups, American Indian/Alaskan Natives were five times more likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts
Be encouraged that creating awareness and education are key factors in prevention. Please take time to review the gun violence prevention information and ensure your children are properly educated about the potential threats of gun violence. The PTA’s Gun Violence Prevention Blueprint offers guides for parents to engage in conversations with principals, state lawmakers, members of congress, teachers, school counselors, superintendents, school boards, mayors, city councils and governors.
If you are interested in learning more about gun violence protection or becoming a member and gaining access to our Resource Center ($10/month or $99/annually), visit https://advocatefortheinnocent.org/memberships/.
References:
1 – https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens
2 – https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/safety/School-Safety?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=PTA&_zs=rnQve&_zl=M5EH4#blueprint