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Go to Suicide and Gun Violence Factsheet
Kids and Gun Violence
FACT: In 2005, incidents of gun murders, gun suicides, and
unintentional shootings in Illinois killed 130 children and adolescents under age 19, a 9% decrease from the 2004 total of 143 in this age group.
FACT: Nationwide for 2005, gun violence killed 3,027 American children and teens ages 19 and under, an increase of 6% from the nationwide 2002 total of 2,852. This means that an average of 8 young people are killed each day by guns in the U.S., a total that is the highest of any developed country.
FACT: In 2005, a total of 822 young Americans ages 10-19 committed suicide with firearms, a decrease of 3% from the 2004 total of 846 youth gun suicides. Unlike suicide attempts using other methods, suicide attempts with guns are nearly always fatal, meaning a temporarily depressed teenager will never get a second chance at life. Nearly two-thirds of all completed teenage suicides involve a firearm.
FACT: The firearms used in 72% of unintentional firearm deaths and injuries, and in firearm suicide attempts and completions, for people ages 0-19 were stored in the residence of the victim, their relative, or their friend.
FACT: In 2002, the gun death rate for African-American males ages 15 to 19 was 34 per 100,000, a large disparity compared to white males of the same age (8 per 100,000). For black males ages 20-24, the gun death rate was even higher at 62 per 100,000, an even greater disparity compared to white males of the same age group (13 per 100,000).
FACT: 48% of gun-owning households with children do NOT regularly make sure that guns are equipped with child safety locks or other trigger locks.
FACT: Contrary to popular belief, young children do possess the physical strength to fire a gun:
25% of 3 to 4 year olds, 70% of 5 to 6 year olds, and 90% of 7 to 8 year olds can fire most handguns.
FACT: More than 3,500 students were expelled in 1998-99 for bringing guns to school. Of these, 43% were in elementary or junior high school. This means that, in a 40-week school year, an average of 8 children per week nationwide are expelled for bringing a gun in school. And these figures include only the children who get caught.
FACT: During 1999, 52% of all murder victims younger than age 18 were killed by guns, and 82% of murder victims aged 13 to 19 years old were killed by guns. In 1986, guns were used in 38% of murders in the same age groups.
FACT: 59% of students in grades six through twelve know where to get a gun if they want one, and two thirds of these students say they can acquire a firearm within 24 hours.
Page last updated: May 1, 2008