Most Child Gun Deaths Involve Guns In Our Homes

"Between 2015 and 2024, more than 3,500 incidents occurred in which a child under 18 accidentally shot themselves or someone else, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. That's an average of about 360 children per year, nearly one accidental gun injury or death every day. Nine in 10 of those wounded or killed in unintentional shootings by children were also under 18 years old, the report found, often a friend or sibling of the child holding the gun."

"But while school shootings happen more frequently than they did 50 years ago, they still only account for a slim fraction of gun-related deaths, according to a new report from NPR, which highlights that roughly half of gun owners don't follow safe storage guidelines. While school shootings understandably loom the largest in our minds, it's the loaded gun hidden under the bed at home that poses the biggest risk to kids."

"Firearms are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, but homicide and suicide account for more fatalities than accidental shootings. Still, these acts are most often carried out with guns found in the home, not securely stored. To compare, there have been nearly 1,300 cases of gunfire on school grounds in the same time frame - still a staggering amount, but not the most pressing risk to American children."

Recent mass shootings have increased anxiety for parents and students about going to school. School shootings occur more frequently than 50 years ago but account for only a slim fraction of gun-related deaths. Roughly half of gun owners do not follow safe storage guidelines, and many household firearms are stored unlocked or loaded. Between 2015 and 2024, more than 3,500 incidents involved a child under 18 accidentally shooting themselves or someone else, averaging about 360 children per year. Nine in ten of those wounded or killed were also under 18, often a friend or sibling. Firearms are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, and improperly stored guns at home are the biggest preventable risk.

Read at Scary Mommy