USA in red with 5 images of guns on it
Gun violence is a major public health problem, and a leading cause of premature death.
Despite the decline in 2023, gun-related death and injury rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, with a 22% rise in gun-related deaths from 2019 to 2022, including unintentional shooting, suicide, homicide, murder, and defensive gun use.
An average of 118 people a day died from a gun-related incident in 2023. For every person who dies by firearm, more than two survive, often with significant and expensive mental and physical injuries.
In June 2024, US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to the health issue.
Gun violence has significant health consequences, especially among child and adolescent survivors and their families.Among children and adolescents, nearly 80% of those that are shot, survive.
Following firearm injury, survivors and their families experience substantial increases in physical, mental, and substance use disorders. Families of children and adolescents who died have even more pronounced impacts.
Increases in psychiatric disorders were also found among the parents of child and adolescent survivors. The parents and siblings of decedents had significantly larger increases in psychiatric disorders. Parents' psychiatric visits and medications also rose.
Gun violence has significant health and economic consequences, especially among child and adolescent survivors. Gun violence can place a strain on health care systems, with survivors increasing hospitalizations and spending by 1,449% and 1,713% respectively.
Their families experienced a 75% increase in psychiatric visits for mothers but a decrease in routine medical visits for siblings. Fathers had no change in use.
The families of decedents had substantially larger increases in psychiatric disorders and mental health visits, than families of survivors.
Gun violence in the US has steep economic consequences, totaling $557 billion in 2022. Most significant are the quality-of-life costs, which include the value of pain and well-being lost by survivors of firearm injuries, decedents, and their families.
In 2023, mass shootings accounted for less than 2% of gun deaths across the US. More typical acts of violence include suicides, household, and community shootings.
Between 2018 and 2023, there was a yearly average of around 603 mass shooting events. While mass shootings are often the most publicized events, they are not the primary source of gun violence.
There have been over 250 mass shootings this year alone, resulting in 287 deaths and over 1,107 injuries (as of June 26, 2024).
In 2021, half of all child and adolescent gun deaths occurred in 10 states. Among those who died, nearly 85% were male, 50% were Black, and 83% were between the ages of 15 and 19 years old.
Prior to 2020, motor vehicle accidents were consistently the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the US. Since then, gun-related deaths have remained the leading cause of death among this age group.
In response to the number of deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents, numerous legislative steps have been taken to improve car and motor vehicle safety over time. Until recently, there had not been any widespread federal legislation in response to gun violence since 1994.
Current as of June 26, 2024
The US is the only high-income country in which guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
In other similarly large and wealthy countries, firearms account for less than 2% of child deaths. In the US, firearm deaths account for 20%.
Overall, incidents of gunfire on school grounds have been on the rise since 2013. Across the US, Texas has the highest number of gunfire occurrences on school grounds in this timeframe, resulting in 65 deaths and 88 injuries.
This year alone, there have been 107 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, responsible for nearly 30 deaths (as of June 26, 2024).
Trauma Associated with Witnessing Gun Violence
Key points
Question: Is neighborhood gun violence exposure associated with children's mental health-related pediatric emergency department (ED) utilization?
Findings: In a cross-sectional study of 54,341 children, pediatric ED utilization was compared before and after episodes of neighborhood gun violence. Among children living within 2 to 3 blocks of a shooting, increased mental health-related ED utilization was found at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months after the shooting.
Meaning: Exposure to gun violence is associated with an increase in children's acute mental health symptoms, suggesting that trauma-informed care must be prioritized in communities with a high prevalence of violence exposure, and public policies that reduce neighborhood gun violence are urgently needed.
Mental illness is not a predictor of violence towards others.
Gun Violence and Mental Illness
After shootings, mental illness is often blamed as the cause though on average, mental illness is not a significant risk factor for gun violence. Only a minority of mass shooters have experienced serious mental illness.
People with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence, rather than perpetrators. Gun violence may also cause mental health issues for survivors, such as depression, anxiety, and personality changes.
Gun Violence and Suicide Risk
While suicide risk is elevated among people with certain mental illnesses, suicide among those with a diagnosis is rare. Research suggests that less than half of all individuals who commit suicide have a known mental illness diagnosis.
The presence of a gun in a home can increase the risk of suicide by 2 to 10 times compared to homes without guns. Firearm suicides account for nearly half of all suicides.
Gun Violence and Mental Illness in the US Compared to Other Countries
The United States has similar rates of mental illness to other countries but has much higher rates of gun violence and gun ownership.
Compared to other high-income countries with a population of at least 10 million people, the US ranks the highest for its gun violence levels.
Rates of Firearm Deaths by Others per 100,000 Population
On average, the firearm homicide rate in the US is nearly 25 times greater than other high-income countries.
Mental illness is often stigmatized as being the cause of gun violence. However, only a minority of mass shooters have experienced serious mental illness. It is estimated that 96% of the common violence that occurs would continue even if the elevated risk of violence among people with mental illness was eliminated.
What is God's view on violence?
God hates violence. “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion” (Psalm 11:5). God will judge those who are violent.
What does the Bible say about dealing with violence?
We are to resist using violence even in retaliation for violence used against us (Luke 6:29). This does not mean a capitulation to the inevitability of violence, but the promise of a day when those who continue to pursue violence will be dealt with (Romans 12:17-19; Revelation 22:12-15).
What did Jesus teach about violence?
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) instructs us to not return violence for violence; instead, we should be like God, who offers boundless, gratuitous love to all.
Citations
Gun violence is a public health problem: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Firearm Injury and Death, March 2024
Gun-related deaths and injuries are still above pre-pandemic levels: Alexander Tin and Allison Elyse Gualtieri, CBS News, Gun injuries in 2023 still at higher rates than before the pandemic across most states, CDC reports, June 2024
Total gun death 2019 - 2023: Gun Violence Archive, Past Summary Ledgers, June 2024
For every one person who dies by firearm, more than two survive: The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, Nonfatal Gun Violence, July 2020
Expensive and long-term mental and physical injuries: Alice Miranda Ollstein and Nicholas Wu, Politico, “Health costs of gun violence exceed $1 billion a year, GAO says”, July 2021
$557 billion - Zirui Song, JAMA, The Business Case for Reducing Firearm Injuries, 2022
Mass shootings in 2024: Gun Violence Archive, Gun Violence Archive 2024, June 2024
School shootings over time: Everytown, Gunfire on School Grounds in the United States, June 2024
Vasan A, Mitchell HK, Fein JA, Buckler DG, Wiebe DJ, South EC. Association of Neighborhood Gun Violence With Mental Health–Related Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization. JAMA Pediatr. 2021;175(12):1244–1251. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.3512
Mabel Martinez-Almonte, MA, OTR/L, NCC
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately. You can text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog is generated for entertainment or/and informative purposes, but not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or behavioral health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.