Is Gun Violence The Leading Cause of Death In American Children?
Yesterday, I heard someone on cable news say that Americans are now numb to gun violence. When it affects our children, I say that is wrong. Maybe, we are getting used to hearing the tragic stories of young lives ending so senselessly.
I pray we never get numb.
The tears, the teddy bear memorials, the candles, the speeches. We hear all the outrage and vows every time children are murdered by gun violence. For those who are not directly affected, life returns to normal.
For those who lose a child, their lives never return to normal.
According to the Centers For Disease Control, in 2021, firearms were the number one cause of death for children aged 1 to 19 in the United States. More children died due to gun violence than in auto accidents.
This is a powerful and tragic statistic.
According to Politifact, the CDC does not classify firearms as a cause of death but rather as a mechanism by which death occurs. The stat shows that firearms are the leading mechanism of injury mortality for this age group.
I think we can all agree this is unacceptable. As a nation, we must have a sane conversation seeking a solution. I have said it before, I believe even in our divided political climate, we have the capacity as a nation to have a calm and rational discussion on ways to end this tragic cycle of violence.
No parent should ever again face the prospect of sending their child to school in the morning, not to return after school with stories and laughter.
We owe it to all our children to have this conversation.