NEWTOWN, Conn. – A new study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics highlights that states with stricter gun laws experience much lower rates of child deaths by firearm than states with the most permissive gun laws. Currently, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. This new study shows that practical legislation can make a major impact when it comes to protecting the lives of children.
In the study, researchers from Mass General Brigham looked at firearm mortality rates among U.S. children ages 0-17 over the 13-year period since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling McDonald v. Chicago. That ruling determined the Second Amendment applies to local governments, which led to many individualized changes in firearms laws throughout the nation. Some localities added tighter firearms restrictions, others loosened their gun laws.
Researchers used data from several national nonprofits to group U.S. states into three categories based on their gun laws: most permissive, permissive, and strict. Some examples of the types of laws that were evaluated include background checks, permits, temporary transfer orders, secure storage, permitless carry, and many others.
In their findings, researchers discovered that states with the least restrictive gun laws experienced 67 percent more pediatric deaths than expected. In all, the most permissive states and the permissive states experienced 7,400 additional deaths between 2011 and 2023.
Conversely, half of the states with the strictest firearms laws saw a decrease in youth firearm mortality over that period.
When compared to other causes of death not involving firearms, including homicides and suicides by other means than guns, there were not similar changes involving additional deaths. Researchers said this gap shows that firearm legislation matters when it comes to saving children’s lives.
In response to these findings, Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“When we fail to implement policies that are proven to reduce unauthorized access to guns, our children pay the price. This is a moment when all of us – caring adults, parents, and community leaders – need to ask ourselves if prioritizing access to guns over kids is really worth this terrible cost.
“We have the power to change this. All of us must take action to pass practical policies that are proven to save lives. Some examples include secure storage, temporary transfer, and background checks which keep guns out of the hands of youth, people experiencing a crisis, and other prohibited users. We urge our legislators at the federal, state, and local level to examine the evidence and institute policies that save children’s lives.
“Beyond policy, which is only one part of the solution, we must continue to advocate for and expand access to violence prevention training and mental health resources nationwide. Protective factors like these address the root causes of violence and create safer spaces for children. Death by gun violence is preventable, and we must act now.”
To learn more about proven policies and programs that prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
###
The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 203-491-7472