CDC Reports Decline In Children's Gun Deaths

U. S. Newswire ^ | 10/8/2001 | Paul Marchione

[I_Publius]

CDC Reports Gun Deaths Decline
Kennedy Responds

U.S. Newswire
8 Oct 10:15
CDC Reports Decline in Children's Gun Deaths
Common Sense About Kids and Guns Applauds Responsible Parents, Warns There's More To Do

To: National Desk, Health Editors
Contact: Paul Marchione
Common Sense about Kids and Guns
202-546-0200
Web site:www.kidsandguns.org
e-mail: paulm@kidsandguns.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ --
Firearm deaths of children and teens have dropped significantly including an 18 percent reduction in the number of gun accidents and a 13 percent reduction in gun suicides among kids 0-19 years-old, according to new mortality data released by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

Victoria Reggie Kennedy, president of Common Sense about Kids and Guns attributes the drop in deaths to more responsible gun owners and gun storage practices, but warns of continued risks for the future. "Common Sense about Kids and Guns is encouraged by this downward trend in firearm deaths. We applaud the responsible adults who followed our Common Sense Safety Tips and assured that no child or teen encountered a loaded or improperly stored firearm in their home."

Common Sense about Kids and Guns is a nonpartisan group co-founded by Kennedy that has worked for more than two years to promote responsible gun ownership and firearm storage practices.

"But while the decreases are significant, there were still 1,300 kids killed in gun-related accidents and suicides in 1999. This translates into one child or teen killed in a firearm-related accident or suicide every seven hours. And the reality is that many of these accidents and suicides were preventable, if the firearm in question had been properly stored: unloaded and locked."

In response to reports of a possible increase in gun sales in the first few days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Kennedy said: "As all Americans struggle to find an appropriate response to the tragic events of last month, we strongly urge that adults exercise caution and engage in an honest assessment of their own personal family situations before making the decision to bring a gun into their home."

"During these difficult and volatile times, parents need to help children cope by giving them a sense of safety and security. Unfortunately, that sense of safety and security can be shattered by a hastily made decision to bring a gun into the home."

At the heart of the Common Sense about Kids and Guns message is parental responsibility. "A responsible adult cannot rely on a child or teenager not to touch a gun, merely because they have been told not to do so. It is impossible to predict what children, teenagers, and their friends will do, and the risks of mishandling a gun are too great to place the burden of responsibility on anyone other the adult bringing the gun into the home."

"Without any exaggeration, the way a gun is stored can be a matter of life and death for our children," Kennedy said. "Tragedies occur daily involving unlocked firearms easily accessible to young people either at their own homes or the home of a relative or neighbor. As adults, we must take action to prevent these tragedies from ever happening again."

Common Sense about Kids and Guns has developed six simple safety tips that have been endorsed by organizations from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign to the National Shooting Sport Foundation. Whether or not someone decides to keep a gun at home, Common Sense urges all adults to follow these steps to protect kids from gun deaths and injuries:

All gun owners must:
-- unload and lock up their guns;
-- lock and store ammunition separately;
-- and keep keys where kids are unable to find them.

All parents must:
-- ask if guns are safely stored at places their kids visit or play;
-- talk with their kids about guns; and
-- teach young children not to touch guns and to tell an adult if they find one.

"We are encouraged by these new numbers citing a decrease in the number of gun deaths. However, there are still many complex issues that lead to gun violence in our society -- issues that we must address in a serious way," concluded Kennedy. "But right now, if adults act responsibly and follow these six simple steps, we can continue to reduce the number of tragedies involving kids and guns. And remember, the child you save may be your own."

For more information on this topic, go to the Common Sense about Kids and Guns Web site at http://www.kidsandguns.org or call toll-free 877-955-KIDS.

---
To arrange an interview with Kennedy, contact Paul Marchione,
202-546-0200.

Additional background can be found at www.kidsandguns.org/press.
A graphic of the Common Sense Safety Tips is available in Web and print formats at: www.kidsandguns.org/graphics.
Data Source: "Deaths: Final Data for 1999." NVSR Vol.49, No.8. (PHS) 2001-1120.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_08.pdf
"Deaths: Final Data for 1999," prepared by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, is the most recent comprehensive report on mortality patterns in the United States, based on all death records in the United States for 1999.

KEYWORDS:
GUNS/FIREARMS, YOUTH, POLICY
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770
10/08 10:15

Copyright 2001, U.S. Newswire

[I_Publius]

CDC - Report on Deaths for 1999


Interesting report.

After reviewing it, I found that the number of deaths of children, not teenage adults, numbered 489. That is in deaths of children 14 and under.

If you look at the number of deaths of even younger children, aged 9 and under, the rate goes down even further to 153 deaths.

After reading Poe's "Seven Myths of Gun Control," I find this information even more enlightening.


UPHOLD THE SECOND AMENDMENT!!!

[coloradan]

among kids 0-19 years-old

... including kids 18-19 years old who are legal adults who can marry, vote, and die for their country.

In case anyone was wondering about whether the gun grabbers will ever stop lying or misleading in order to advance their agenda.

[PatrioticAmerican]

" there were still 1,300 kids killed in gun-related accidents and suicides in 1999"

What happened to 15 a day? And why are 8 & 19 year olds considered "children"?

[I_Publius]

Maybe I'm still a child, too, at 30 something!! ;)

[coloradan]

They are considered "children" to tug at the heartstrings of the American Sheeple. The Million Misguided Mommies march distributed literature last year that cited the number of "youths" killed by guns in various years and states. By that definition, Monica Lewinsky was a youth while she was servicing the TRIMFPOTUS.

[cruiserman]

All gun owners must:
-- unload and lock up their guns;
-- lock and store ammunition separately;
-- and keep keys where kids are unable to find them.

So much for self defense, eh? Hang on a second, Mr. BG. I need to unlock my gun, get my ammunition, and load it.

[38special]

Unfortunately there was an incident here in Houston over the weekend. A twelve year old boy and his friend found a .25 caliber semi-auto in his eighteen year old brother's bedroom and shot himself in the chest and died later at the hospital. The parents were quoted as saying they didn't allow guns in the house for fear that something like this would happen. Maybe if they had taken the time to educate themselves and their children about gun safety this tragedy could have been avoided.

[lelio]

1,300 kids killed in gun-related accidents and suicides
I read in another post that 40 to 60% of gun deaths are suicides. What is it for kids? Say it is the same rate, that means that there are only 600 non-suicide gun related kid deaths a year.
And rather saying that is "7 an hour" it should be based on population. According to the census we have 60M people between 0-19. That means one out of every 600k kids dies in a non-suicide gun death a year.

[I_Publius]

A little more data that I took time to figure out.

Of all the deaths by firearms in 1999, there were 824 "accidental" deaths.

Of these 824, there were 88 deaths of children aged 14 and under, which, if I did my math properly, is less than 1/3rd of 1%.

Of those 88 deaths, 31 "accidental" deaths were from ages 9 and under.

There were 12 deaths the age range from 1 - 4.

I think more American's need to know the "real" information and not this propaganda from those that want to disarm American's.

Isn't one of the goals of the U.N. to disarm the world??

We can't let this happen!!!

[Lazamataz]

This is proof there is a need for much stricter gun control!

[Frohickey]

This is proof there is a need for much stricter gun control!

Absolutely. Kids who can't hit the X ring ought not be given bullets. ;)

Anyhow, my assessment of this report... 1300 deaths of children and semi-adults (18-19) from gun accidents AND suicide. Lets say that half of these are suicides, which should not be counted, suicidees can always use poison and holding their breath. So, thats 650 deaths, out of 300 million guns, is 0.000002167 deaths per gun.

Someone contact the gun manufacturers! Because according to my calculations and the assertion of the gun banners, gun manufacturers are not making enough evil child-killing guns. You know, the ones forged in the fires of Mount Doom and inbued with black magic that enables gun to load and fire themselves.

[TC Rider]

I wouldn't put it past these pukes to be salivating over any potential casualties in the Afghan war. They would love to pump up the numbers with 18 and 19 year old recruits.

[AlaskaErik]

I thought the organization was the Centers for Disease Control, not the Centers for Gun Control. How about getting back to issues relevant to diseases!!!

[Freedom2specul8]

boom

[Demosthenes]

At the heart of the Common Sense about Kids and Guns message is parental responsibility. "A responsible adult cannot rely on a child or teenager not to touch a gun, merely because they have been told not to do so. It is impossible to predict what children, teenagers, and their friends will do, and the risks of mishandling a gun are too great to place the burden of responsibility on anyone other the adult bringing the gun into the home."


This is the biggest load of crap I ever heard. My father told me never to touch his guns when he wasn't home, and not to tell my friends about them. I never did, not once. I kept my mouth shut because I knew the alternative was death by ass-whipping. If today's touchy-feely a--hole crowd would actually DO what they SAY once in a while and discipline their children (read that "SPANK") and instill a little fear of God, Then they could indeed rely upon their kids to follow their instructions when they were not around.

These people are so stupid it hurts me head to think about it.

[freedomcrusader]

824 "accidental" deaths.

That's about 2.26 per day, for ALL ages, including 19 years old and older.

there were 88 deaths of children aged 14 and under...

That is about one every 4 days.

Of those 88 deaths, 31 "accidental" deaths were from ages 9 and under.

That is about one every 11 days.

There were 12 deaths the age range from 1 - 4.

That is one a month.

That 10 kids per day myth just keeps getting weaker and weaker!!!

[BLASTER 14]

"All parents must--teach young children not to touch guns and to tell an adult if they find one."

Sounds like these people had the good sense to talk to Eddie Eagle.

[I_Publius]

Unfortunately, they consider gun ownership a disease!

[Liberal Classic]

Stop worrying about my Winchester and Colt, and start worrying about small pox and anthrax!

They release this today, when we are hearing news about anthrax being sent in the post? Get with the program CDC!

[xm177e2]

All gun owners must:
-- unload and lock up their guns;
-- lock and store ammunition separately;
-- and keep keys where kids are unable to find them.

Unless you're keeping a firearm for self-defense purposes where you might need immediate access to it, this is good advice. There are containers for loaded guns which can be opened very quickly, if you want a gun for self-defense, it would be a good idea to get one of these.

All parents must:
-- ask if guns are safely stored at places their kids visit or play;
-- talk with their kids about guns; and
-- teach young children not to touch guns and to tell an adult if they find one.

Talk with your kids about guns! Teach them to tell an adult if they find one, and not to touch one without an adult standing there with them! That's very basic. Should you ask if people have guns in their homes before sending your children over?

The ONLY question which is appropriate to ask is, "do you leave your M249 on the floor next to the rifle grenades, or do you keep it the drawer with the 200-round belt boxes?"