Gun violence, gun suicides leading cause of NC child injury deaths in 2020
Nearly 100 children lost their lives to guns, either by accidental gunfire or intentional suicides. Sixty-four child deaths were caused by someone else firing at the child and more than 30 deaths were self-inflicted, new state data shows. Most of the deaths were among teenage boys.
Posted — UpdatedNearly 100 children lost their lives to guns, either by accidental gunfire or intentional suicides. Sixty-four child deaths were caused by someone else firing at the child and more than 30 deaths were self-inflicted, new state data shows. Most of the deaths were among teenage boys.
Activists say the way to prevent these deaths is to remove access to firearms from people who are depressed or in a suicidal crisis.
Across the country, more children are being accidentally killed in shootings as gun ownership has soared. Experts say social isolation, economic struggles and school closures during the coronavirus pandemic has put many more teenagers at an increased risk of gun violence. Hundreds of children witnessed, suffered or died in shootings last year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Statewide there was a nearly 90% increase in children visiting emergency rooms with firearm injuries. The majority of those children were shot unintentionally, state data shows.
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