There are approximately 7,500 child hospitalizations and 500 in-hospital deaths each year due to injuries sustained from guns. In an abstract presented Oct. 27 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, researchers also identified a link between the percentage of homes with guns and the prevalence of child gunshot injuries.
In “United States Gunshot Violence—Disturbing Trends,” researchers reviewed statistics from the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) from 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009 (for a total of 36 million pediatric hospital admissions), and estimated state household gun ownership using the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (2004).
The study found that approximately 7,500 children are admitted to the hospital for the treatment of injuries sustained from guns each year, and more than 500 children die during hospital admission from these injuries. Between 1997 and 2009, hospitalizations from gunshot wounds increased from 4,270 to 7,730, and in-hospital deaths from 317 to 503.
The study also found a significant association between the percentage of gunshot wounds occurring in the home and the percentage of households containing any firearms, loaded firearms and unlocked loaded firearms.
“Handguns account for the majority of childhood gunshot wounds and this number appears to be increasing over the last decade,” said lead study author Arin L. Madenci, MD, MPH. “Furthermore, states with higher percentages of household firearm ownership also tended to have higher proportions of childhood gunshot wounds, especially those occurring in the home.”
Many current gun control efforts focus on limiting the availability of military-style semi-automatic assault rifles.
“Policies designed to reduce the number of household firearms, especially handguns, may more effectively reduce the number of gunshot injuries in children,” said Dr. Madenci.
More guns, mean more children injured by guns.
Less guns means less injuries.
Why is that so fucking hard to figure out?
As liberals we should NEVER let this issue fall by the wayside. I know the conventional wisdom is that it is almost impossible to pass ANY gun control legislation but "almost impossible" is not impossible.
And there are some who are still more than willing to tilt at windmills.
If 7500 children per year were injured by a toy or car, you know damned well it would already have been yanked off the market.
ReplyDeleteI told my daughter that if she is ever in a room with a gun no matter where or who, she is to LEAVE....morons with guns like to show them off and then bang....
ReplyDeleteTragically, these people are so wedded to their guns that they are willing to accept dead children as the cost of avoiding any gun safety measures at all. They want their guns accessible, loaded, and ready to go. If that leads to the injury and/or death of an innocent party (and it's not just children who are the innocent victims of their inadequacy and paranoia).... well, they have got the rationalization down to a (you should pardon the expression) science: i.e., that's just too bad but it couldn't be helped.
ReplyDeleteForget what Screechy called "Death Panels" ( Doctors informing patients of a living will and end of life topics), these pediatricians should counsel patients and family members about gun safety, perhaps hand out trigger locks for free. The gun fetishists won't give up their "toys", might as well teach them gun safety. If it saves one kid, it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteAnyone in health care, especially nurses and doctors have my utmost respect. How they can see all the fruits of gun violence and keep caring is beyond me.