A new CDC report has found that 1 in 15 boys and 1 in 50 girls reported carrying a gun in the last 12 months for non-recreational purposes. Researchers surveyed taken from across the country, including Florida, also found that gun carrying was more prevalent among those who experienced violence, suicidal ideation or attempts, or substance use.
Suicide and homicide are the second and third leading causes of death, respectively, among youths aged 14–17 years. Nearly one half (46%) of youth suicides and most (93%) youth homicides result from firearm injuries.
Among males, gun carrying – excluding hunting and other recreational uses – was most common among Black students (10.6%), followed by Hispanic (7.2%) and White (White) (6.1%) students. Among females, gun carrying was more common among Hispanic (3.5%) than among Black (2.0%) and White students (1.1%).
Gun carrying among males and females was more prevalent among those who had been threatened or injured with a weapon on school property (25.9% and 11.2%, respectively) than it was among those who had not (5.2% and 1.3%, respectively).
Most students who carried a gun reported carrying on 1–3 days (males: 46.8%; females: 69.8%) or six days or greater (males: 42.0%; females: 21.6%) during the past 12 months. Overall, those who carried a gun six days or greater were more likely to report three of the violence-related experiences, suicidal ideation or attempts.
Instead of water safety, maybe the Children’s Trust show be focusing on gun safety and mental health.
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