March 25, 2025 Story by: Editor
Firearms have been the leading cause of death among children in the United States since 2019, and the trend has continued through 2023, with racial and ethnic disparities remaining a major concern. A recent study aimed to analyze patterns in pediatric firearm mortality, examining variations based on intent, age groups, and racial and ethnic demographics.
Study Findings on Pediatric Firearm Deaths
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database, firearms remained the leading cause of death among children aged 0–19 from 2021 to 2023. However, the overall firearm crude death rate slightly declined from 5.8 per 100,000 persons in 2021 to 5.5 in 2023.
For adolescents aged 14–19, firearms became the leading cause of death in 2016 and have maintained this position. Among younger children aged 0–13, firearms ranked as the fourth leading cause of death.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Firearm Death Rates
The study found that racial and ethnic disparities in firearm deaths have persisted, with Black children continuing to experience the highest mortality rates. While the firearm death rate among Black children declined from 18.6 in 2022 to 17.6 in 2023, it remained significantly higher than that of any other racial or ethnic group. Black children also had the highest firearm death rates across all U.S. census regions.
Additionally, American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) children had the second-highest firearm death rates. The data highlighted a concerning trend in firearm suicides, with the suicide rate among Black children (1.8 per 100,000) surpassing that of White children (1.6) in 2022, making it the highest of any ethnic group by 2023.
Geographic Disparities in Firearm Deaths
The study also revealed geographic variations in pediatric firearm deaths. NonCore (rural) areas had the highest crude firearm death rates between 2018 and 2019, disproportionately affecting AIAN children. However, in 2020–2021, Large Central Metro areas surpassed these rural regions in firearm-related deaths.
Call for Targeted Prevention Strategies
Despite a slight decline in overall firearm mortality rates, racial and ethnic disparities remain significant. Firearms continue to be the leading cause of death for teenagers and a major risk for younger children. The disproportionately high firearm suicide rates among Black children and the ongoing impact on AIAN children highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies.
Addressing these disparities requires focused efforts to support vulnerable populations and implement effective intervention measures aimed at reducing firearm-related deaths among children at the highest risk. Source: Injury Epidemiology
