More often than not, the media tells us that youth gun related deaths are a big city problem. The truth is, young people in rural areas are just as likely to die by the gun as their urban counterparts. A recent study conducted by Dr. Michael Nance, director of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s trauma program, shows that, while gun deaths among young people age 19 and under living in large cities are more likely to be homicides, firearm deaths among youth in the same age group living in rural areas are more likely to be suicidal or accidental.
The study looked at gun deaths among individuals 19 and younger from 1999 through 2006. In all, there were about 15,000 homicides, 7,000 suicides and 1,400 accidental shootings. The death rates in urban and rural areas were about the same rate: around four deaths per every 100,000 children. To some, the numbers may not seem too alarming. But when we think of the young lives that were lost unnecessarily, we all have a duty to do something to address this issue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. has more gun related deaths than any other industrialized nation. While government imposed gun bans has worked to somewhat reduce firearm deaths, they haven’t eliminated them completely. The solution to making sure fewer people die by gunfire is unclear; depending on whom you ask the answer range from outright bans to classes on how to use guns properly.
Reducing gun deaths should be bigger priority for this country. Making progress on the issue is difficult as gun rights is a hotly debated issue, one led by the National Rifle Association. While ensuring the 2nd amendment rights of citizens are not infringed upon is important, so too is the need to protect our citizens. The NRA and other gun proponents must balance their fight for 2nd amendment rights with the need to keep our urban and rural streets safe.
No matter where you stand on control issues and regardless of the situation surrounding a gun death – murder, suicide – Americans, and especially our young people, continuously fall victim to firearms. As a society, we need to realize that this is a universal problem and we should work together to solve it.
