National trends in pediatric firearm and automobile fatalities | State gun law scores were based on the 2014–2020 Gifford's Annual Gun Law Scorecard and strength was categorized by letter grades A-F. | GIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | 2016 | CDC WONDER database | 1999 - 2020 | In 1999 National pediatric fatality rate for motor vehicle crashes was 248% higher than firearm injuries | The fatality rate for motor vehicle crashes was 16% lower than firearm injuries by 2020 | For each increase in letter grade for gun law strength there was an 18% reduction in the firearm fatality rate. | States with the strongest gun laws (A) had a 55% lower firearm fatality rate compared to those with the weakest laws (F). | Conclusion: Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the U.S | A multidisciplinary approach is urgently necessary to handle this national crisis. | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.09.028 | Source: Stevens J et al. | Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, CO, USA | @EmTombash | @StayCurrentMD | Cincinnati Children's | Journal of Pediatric Surgery
National trends in pediatric firearm and automobile fatalities
Infographic · Mar 2023 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
National data from 1999-2020 shows firearm injuries surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of pediatric death in the United States. States with stronger gun laws demonstrated 55% lower pediatric firearm fatality rates compared to states with weaker regulations, highlighting the impact of policy on injury prevention.
- Firearm injuries surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of pediatric death in the US by 2020, reversing a 21-year trend.
- States with strongest gun laws (grade A) had 55% lower pediatric firearm fatality rates compared to states with weakest laws (grade F).
- Each incremental improvement in state gun law strength correlated with an 18% reduction in pediatric firearm deaths.
- MVC fatalities decreased 248% relative to firearm deaths between 1999-2020, demonstrating success of automotive safety interventions.
- Public health policy and legislative action show measurable impact on pediatric firearm mortality rates at the state level.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the infographic.
The infographic uses a teal and dark green color scheme with yellow and red accent text. It features a line graph showing two trend lines (guns in red, cars in blue/purple) that cross around 2016, calendar and clock icons, a map of the United States, and illustrations of a gun and police car. The layout is divided into sections with key statistics highlighted in different colors.
Jenny Stevens, Kaci Pickett, Marina L. Reppucci, Margo Nolan, Steven L. Moulton
Background: Successful public health policies and injury prevention efforts have reduced pediatric automobile fatalities across the United States. In 2019, firearm injuries exceeded motor vehicle crashes (MVC) as the leading cause of childhood death in Colorado. We sought to determine if similar trends exist nationally and if state gun laws impact firearm injury fatality rates.
Methods: Annual pediatric (≤19 years-old) fatality rates for firearm injuries and MVCs were obtained from the CDC WONDER database (1999–2020). State gun law scores were based on the 2014–2020 Gifford's Annual Gun Law Scorecard and strength was categorized by letter grades A-F. Poisson generalized linear mixed models were used to model fatality rates. Rates were estimated for multiple timepoints and compared between grade levels.
Results: In 1999, the national pediatric fatality rate for MVCs was 248% higher than firearm injuries (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.25–2.73, p<0.0001). By 2020, the fatality rate for MVCs was 16% lower than that of firearm injuries (IRR 95% CI: 0.75- 0.93, p = 0.0014). For each increase in letter grade for gun law strength there was an 18% reduction in the firearm fatality rate (IRR 95%CI: 0.78–0.86, p<0.0001). States with the strongest gun laws (A) had a 55% lower firearm fatality rate compared to those with the weakest laws (F).
Conclusion: Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death in pediatric patients across the United States. State gun law strength has a significant impact on pediatric firearm injury fatality rates. New public health policies, political action, media attention and safer guns are urgently needed to curb this national crisis.