Policy Pathways to Address American Youth Firearm Injury and Death
Apr 6, 2021![protect-kids protect-kids](https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/images/librariesprovider231/default-album/protect-kids.jpg?sfvrsn=523e75ba_0)
This brief reviews the devastating impact of gun violence on American youth and points to the evidence to substantiate the need for federal policy action. A child or adolescent is killed with a firearm every 2 hours and 48 minutes. Firearm violence and death are uniquely American problems with 91% of firearm deaths in high-income countries worldwide occurring here. Additionally, inequities in firearm injury and death exist. Firearm-related death is the leading cause of mortality among Black youth. The rate of firearm-related suicide is twice as high among rural youth and the rate of firearm-related homicide is twice as high among urban youth.
Federal and state laws are necessary component for a prevention strategy to curb firearm-related injuries and death. The lack of federal firearm regulation has resulted in state action. Research illustrates the protective effects of gun safety laws on youth outcomes. State-based evidence can inform federal policies and priorities.
Policy actions to protect children and youth include:
- child access prevention and safe storage
- universal background checks
- permit to purchase
- extended waiting periods
- extreme risk protection orders
- assault weapon and high-capacity ammunition magazine bans
We must strengthen federal laws, protect current evidence-based state laws from dismantling efforts, overcome the inequities suffered by disproportionately affected populations, and invest in public health firearms research.