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No young person should ever be harmed by intentional or unintentional use of firearms
No young person should ever be harmed by intentional or unintentional use of firearms
There are a lot of places where various factions in the gun violence debate disagree. The one place where we all come together is that kids deserve a chance to grow up free from the fear and tyranny of gun violence.
Gun Violence is Leading Cause of Death
Gun Violence is Leading Cause of Death
for American Children
for American Children
Unacceptable Statistics
Unacceptable Statistics
A cynical view is that because we've protected our children so well from other forms of harm (safer motor vehicles, lower risk of certain cancers), while gun violence has stayed relatively even over the last decade. This is not only not true, but it ignores the fact that this is the one area where we've FAILED to keep our children safe.
Firearm Deaths among Kids is UP
Firearm Deaths among Kids is UP
The cause of these gun deaths include suicide, intentional homicide, and accidental discharge as well as other categories like law-enforcement or undetermined.
In 2021, the statistics show that for children, 60% of those deaths were homicides, 32% were suicides, 5% accidents, and 3% other.
Image source: Pew Research Center, PewResearch.org
These statistics only reflect the total death rate (2,590 children were killed by guns in 2021). Another ~11,000 children sought medical attention at Emergency Rooms for gunshot wounds. This was much higher than recent years.
Souce: PewReasearch.org
The Vast Majority of Child Shootings and fatalities are Unintentional and Preventable
The Vast Majority of Child Shootings and fatalities are Unintentional and Preventable
The majority (85.5%) of child victims were fatally injured at a house or apartment, including 55.6% in their own home. Among all child victims of unintentional fatal firearm injuries, the most common precipitating circumstances were the shooter playing with or showing the firearm to another person (66.6%); unintentionally pulling the trigger (21.3%); thinking the firearm was unloaded, the safety was engaged, or the magazine was disengaged (20.5%); and mistaking the firearm for a toy (10.6%; most commonly among children aged 0–5 years [28.0%])
Cheap and secure deterrents range from simple key-opened cable locks (usually free) to $100 biometric gun safes that can be opened at a moment's notice, and even car safes that can prevent smash-and-grab loss of a weapon as well as keeping storage safe, secure, and legal.
Source: CDC data from 2003-2021 MMWR
Active Shooter Drills Are Unproven
Active Shooter Drills Are Unproven
and May Cause Trauma
and May Cause Trauma
Students in the 60's practicing "duck-and-cover" drills, their version of school lockdown drills
Students Shouldn't Have to
Students Shouldn't Have to
Prepare for the Worst at School
Prepare for the Worst at School
Millions of students have participated in school lockdown drills (or active-shooter drills). There's no standardized definition of those terms, so it's hard to even talk about their efficacy. Some are shelter-in-place drills, some involve an actor portraying an intruder trying to hurt or kill students and children.
Much like duck-and-cover drills during the Cold War, the efficacy of active shooter drills is unproven at best, and harmful and traumatic to a generation of kids, at worst.
source: https://thehill.com/homenews/education/3983963-active-shooter-drills-may-be-traumatizing-millions-of-students/
Another Shocking Statistic: This isn't normal
Another Shocking Statistic: This isn't normal
Many other countries have enacted public-safety policies and have not significantly restricted the availability of firearms for sports use, hunting, or hobbyist use. One thing nearly all of the other countries have done, is to make owning a firearm based on being licensed and trained to use it safely.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF.org
A Joke that was never funny
A Joke that was never funny
The culture of denial and disagreement on the solutions to gun violence have left our political system unable to solve it.
Source: The Onion - https://www.theonion.com
ABC News, New York Times, Fox News Report on Gun Violence Epidemic
ABC News, New York Times, Fox News Report on Gun Violence Epidemic
There's universal consensus that our current system is not working. The competing historical narrative, influence of the monied interests, and fearmongering has led to a complete lack of regulation, safeguards, and checks on access to guns among criminals and bad-actors who should not be in possession of them.
Common Sense Solutions
Common Sense Solutions
Ensure that gun transfers (whether firearms are new, used, antique, or partially-constructed) are only allowed between responsible owners
This means streamlining background checks, pre-approval for those who SHOULD be allowed to purchase firearms, and applying waiting periods judiciously
This means streamlining background checks, pre-approval for those who SHOULD be allowed to purchase firearms, and applying waiting periods judiciously
Encourage, Promote, and Enforce Safe Storage of all firearms
Owning a firearm is a right in this country, but just like the right to drive, we need to find non-intrusive solutions to make owning a firearm safer for the owners, their family, and visitors
Owning a firearm is a right in this country, but just like the right to drive, we need to find non-intrusive solutions to make owning a firearm safer for the owners, their family, and visitors
Non-Governmental Options
Many firearm owners don't trust the Federal Government or local law enforcement to secure their weapons. Alternatives are needed to allow other options for storage and safeguarding during mental health events.
Many firearm owners don't trust the Federal Government or local law enforcement to secure their weapons. Alternatives are needed to allow other options for storage and safeguarding during mental health events.
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