Impact of Gun Ownership on Child Safety

March 25, 2025 | Kellie Walker, Cedric Dark, Sandra McKay

Center for Health Policy | Firearm Injury Prevention and Safety | Policy Report

Gun violence continues to rise across the United States. With widespread access to the internet and a 24-hour cable news cycle, the American public receives constant reminders of this critical problem. In recent years, the increase in firearm-related morbidity and mortality among pediatric and adolescent populations has become particularly evident, surpassing motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death.[1] This milestone was reached in 2017 for individuals aged 0–24.[2] By 2021, total firearm-related deaths in children had reached 4,752, with pediatric suicides involving firearms at a record high.[3]

While some have speculated that the increasing levels of gun-related deaths are due to rising gun ownership, in actuality, household gun ownership declined by 28% between 1973 to 2021.[4] However, household gun ownership has started to trend upward again. As of April 2021, approximately 30 million children lived in households with firearms, seven million more than in 2015.[5]

Read more here: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/policies-prevent-gun-violence-schools