By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
New research from Duke University has shown that certain gun laws can help prevent firearm suicides among children and teens. The study found that states with safe storage laws and mandatory waiting periods had lower rates of suicide deaths in individuals aged 18 and younger.
However, these same laws did not reduce the risk of firearm related homicides among youth, according to the research. The study's lead researcher, Dr. Krista Haines, an assistant professor of surgery and population health sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, stated, "There are not many interventions that we found to be effective. Examining existing legislation that does work seemed like a good starting point."
The researchers analyzed 36 gun laws across all 50 states to determine their impact on suicide and homicide risks among children and teens. The study identified child access prevention laws, safe storage laws, and mandatory waiting periods as effective in reducing the rate of suicides among youth. "We know that children are accessing guns to kill themselves, and it's a significant problem," said Haines. She emphasized that more laws regulating children's access to firearms could help prevent these deaths.
Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States. Researchers noted that over 90% of firearm deaths among youth worldwide occur in the U.S. Stand your ground laws, which protect individuals using guns in self defense, were found to increase the risk of suicide among children and teens. Conversely, laws setting a minimum age for gun possession did not significantly impact suicide rates. "We found some laws that are effective, and we need to encourage states without these laws to consider enacting them," said Haines.
Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis, releasing a 39 page advisory on initiatives to prevent firearm deaths. The advisory noted that firearm related deaths reached a near three decade high in 2021, with over 48,000 people dying from gun violence in 2022 a 16,000 increase since 2010. Firearm related suicides have also risen by 20%, with a significant increase among young people.
Murthy emphasized that addressing gun violence requires a public health approach rather than a divisive political response. Gun violence became the leading cause of death among children in 2020, and many U.S. adults worry about becoming victims themselves. A 2023 report from KFF, a health policy research organization, found that more than half of U.S. adults had experienced a firearm related incident.
The Duke University researchers analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examining over 17,000 child gun related deaths between 2009 and 2020. Of these deaths, 6,700 were suicides and over 10,200 were homicides. Handguns were the most commonly used firearm in these incidents.
In a press release, Dr. Suresh Agarwal, chief of trauma, acute, and critical care surgery at Duke University, stated, "This is an early study, and we need to continue using this research to develop better policies." Looking ahead, Dr. Haines and her team are collaborating with pediatric doctors to interview gun owning families in Texas. They aim to develop educational interventions related to safe gun storage.
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