500 children die of gunshots every year; 7500 wounded

[Opti]

www.nbcnews.com/health/terrible-tally-500-children-dead-gunshots-every-year-7-500-8C11469222

About 500 American children and teenagers die in hospitals every year after sustaining gunshot wounds — a rate that climbed by nearly 60 percent in a decade, according to the first-ever accounting of such fatalities, released Sunday.

In addition, an estimated 7,500 kids are hospitalized annually after being wounded by gunfire, a figure that spiked by more than 80 percent from 1997 to 2009, according two Boston doctors presenting their findings at a conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics, held in Orlando, Fla.

Eight of every 10 firearm wounds were inflicted by handguns, according to hospital records reviewed by the doctors. They say the national conversation about guns should shift toward the danger posed by smaller weapons, not the recent fights over limiting the availability of military-style, semi-automatic rifles.

“Handguns account for the majority of childhood gunshot wounds and this number appears to be increasing over the last decade,” said Dr. Arin L. Madenci, a surgical resident at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and one of the study’s two authors. “Furthermore, states with higher percentages of household firearm ownership also tended to have higher proportions of childhood gunshot wounds, especially those occurring in the home.”

Among homes with children, rates of gun possession ranged from 10 percent in New Jersey, for instance, to 62 percent in Montana, the researchers found.

Madenci, and his colleague, Dr. Christopher Weldon, a surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital, tallied the new statistics by culling a national database of 36 million pediatric hospitalizations from 1997 to 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available.

[EVT1]

Not surprising at all- gun ownership is up and gun laws are more lax- just a natural consequence.

Surprised there is a new study- doesn't the GOP go out of their way to prevent these types of studies and pass laws preventing doctors from discussing firearms with patients?  Why yes they do.  Best way to not hear answers you do not want is to find a way to keep people from asking the questions.

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/17/gun-research-is-allowed-again-so-what-will-we-find-out/

[whoisjohngalt]

yes, of course, it's lawful gun owners that are a problem.

not a gang/gheto areas where kids younger and younger getting involved and shooting each other.

when I lived in MD, I don't think there was a day that evening news didn't have some story about shooting in Baltimore city and people/kids getting killed. 

now I live in a state that has very "lax" gun ownership laws and yet.....nope, no such daily news.  As a matter of fact, hardly ever news of kids getting shot and killed

[EVT1]

It's all types of gun owners including lawful ones that contribute to the numbers- it is due to the sheer number of guns increasing.

BTW some of these gang shootings are lawful self-defense- see FL.

For what it is worth there were two stories I am aware of this week where a young child killed themselves with a gun lying around- that was until that point the property of a lawful gun owner- that's the problem with them- they are sneaky bunch- they are lawful until they aren't- and then it is like they never were part of the club.

Not making a gun control argument- just saying don't be shocked, because it is the path we chose and we will have to live with the consequences. 

Until they invent the phaser we are stuck with guns.

[Opti]

WhoisJohnGalt, did you miss this?

“Furthermore, states with higher percentages of household firearm ownership also tended to have higher proportions of childhood gunshot wounds, especially those occurring in the home.”

Among homes with children, rates of gun possession ranged from 10 percent in New Jersey, for instance, to 62 percent in Montana, the researchers found.


A good portion of these deaths are because guns are in the home. Most are not drive bys.
Not sure if it was in this article or not, but one story concerned a three year old who shot himself with a gun found under his parents bed. The father started keeping the gun under the bed so it would be quick to reach. Over the years, this has been a significant category. For some it feels better to pretend most of these shooting are gang members shooting innocent kids, but they are likely the minor story in these numbers. (FWIW, gangs
mostly shoot other gang members and adults.)

[whoisjohngalt]

I didn't say ANYTHING about drive bys.  I said there are lots of shootings among kids themselves.

I am not pretending anything.  I know MD gun laws and I know the gun laws of the state where I am now.  Lax gun laws in my current state do not seem to contribute AT ALL to kids shooting each other.

"household ownership" does not equate to suburban ownership. 

[Peace Of Mind]

Shoot the stupid parents - problem solved!  I think I should run for office I have so many great ideas. 

[AGB]

Oct 27, 2013 17:11:02 GMT -5 Opti said:

WhoisJohnGalt, did you miss this?

“Furthermore, states with higher percentages of household firearm ownership also tended to have higher proportions of childhood gunshot wounds, especially those occurring in the home.”

Among homes with children, rates of gun possession ranged from 10 percent in New Jersey, for instance, to 62 percent in Montana, the researchers found.


A good portion of these deaths are because guns are in the home. Most are not drive bys.
Not sure if it was in this article or not, but one story concerned a three year old who shot himself with a gun found under his parents bed. The father started keeping the gun under the bed so it would be quick to reach. Over the years, this has been a significant category. For some it feels better to pretend most of these shooting are gang members shooting innocent kids, but they are likely the minor story in these numbers. (FWIW, gangs
mostly shoot other gang members and adults.)

The more cars, the more car accidents. There is no doubt that each death is tragic, but 500 out of over 86.5 million children is not a statistically significant number.

FYI, a 20yr old gang member would be considered a child by this report.

"“Policies designed to reduce the number of household firearms, especially handguns, may more effectively reduce the number of gunshot injuries in children,” Madenci said. "

Nothing more than an appeal to emotion.

[whoisjohngalt]

Oct 27, 2013 18:19:50 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

Shoot the stupid parents - problem solved!  I think I should run for office I have so many great ideas. 

yep, in case of little kids getting to guns - I think parents should be held 100% responsible.

[EVT1]

At least the USA is still number one at something.

#1 with guns, gun crimes, gun injuries, and gun deaths.  Go team.