VIDEO: Children living in states with lenient gun laws have higher death rate
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WASHINGTON — Children living in states with more lenient firearm policies have a significantly higher death rate compared with those in states with stricter legislation, a study found.
The findings were presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting.
The AAP has recommended regulating firearms on the level of motor vehicles, and studies have shown that firearm injuries among children increased during the pandemic.
Amber McKenna, MD, a pediatric resident physician at LSU Health Shreveport, and colleagues examined more than 6,400 pediatric deaths related to firearms between 2016 and 2020 and compared them with state rankings for leniency of firearm legislation. McKenna spoke about the findings in a video with Healio.
References:
Study: Lenient gun laws pose threat to public safety. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/987493. Published April 28, 2023. Accessed April 30, 2023.