From http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/1011-107.html (fair use)
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Gun Accidents, Suicides Increase Among Kids
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Though overall firearm deaths are down nationwide, an analysis of gun accidents and
suicides among kids shows that within certain age groups there were startling increases.
The greatest increases were among 5-9 year olds, where the number of accidental firearm deaths increased 21 percent and among 10-14 year olds, where there was a 21 percent increase in the number of firearm suicides.
These findings were reported by Victoria Reggie Kennedy, president of the non-political gun safety and gun violence
prevention organization Common Sense about Kids and Guns, on the one-year anniversary of the group's founding.
Common Sense highlighted national mortality statistics from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics that showed how
overall firearm deaths for children and teens (0-19) were down 10 percent in 1998, but non-homicide firearm deaths (i.e.
accidents and suicides) only declined 4 percent from 1997 to 1998 (from 1,643 to 1,577). Common Sense, which focuses on
parental responsibility for preventing kids' unsupervised access to guns, pointed out that in non-homicide categories, especially
among younger kids, there were actually increases.
KEY FINDINGS
-- For kids under 15, non-homicide firearm deaths increased 4 percent (from 283 to 295).
-- Among 5-9 year olds, accidental firearm deaths increased 21 percent (28 to 34).
-- Among 10-14 year olds, firearm suicides increased 21 percent (126 to 153).
"So while many have lauded the overall decrease in gun deaths among children and teens," Kennedy pointed out, "the increase of gun accidents and suicides is troubling. In 1998, one child or teen was killed in a firearm-related accident or suicide every
five-and-a-half hours. And the reality is that many, many of these accidents and suicides were preventable, if parents and
other responsible adults in these children's lives had used common sense in the way they stored their firearm."
"Without any exaggeration, the way a gun is stored can be a matter of life or death for our children. 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."
Kennedy cited other national research which showed that 40 percent of households with children under 18 report having at least one firearm in the house, with 25 percent of those firearms being stored either loaded or unlocked. Nationwide, there are 1.2 million latch key children who return every afternoon to a home with no parent and an unsecured firearm. And approximately 75 percent of all firearm-related accidents and
suicides involving children and teens are committed with a firearm found at home, or the home of a relative or friend.
"First and foremost," Kennedy advised, "before bringing a gun into our homes, we must consider all of the circumstances unique to our own families. Do children live in or visit our home? Does
someone in the family abuse drugs or alcohol? Is someone depressed or prone to violence or abuse? The risk of death or
injury to children is so significant that the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the most effective way to prevent firearm-related deaths and injuries to children and adolescents is not having guns in the home. The Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers, Inc., the leading trade association representing gun manufacturers, also says that firearm ownership is not for everyone and comes with a great responsibility."
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. So 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.
"There are many complex issues that lead to gun violence in our society, and we must address those issues in a serious way,"
Kennedy said as she concluded. "But in the meantime, we must take the common sense steps necessary to keep our children safe.
Remember: The child you save could be your own."
For more information on this topic, go to the Common Sense about Kids and Guns website at http://www.kidsandguns.org or call 877-955-KIDS.
------
EDITORS NOTE: To arrange an interview with Mrs. Kennedy, please call Common Sense about Kids and Guns' Chief of Staff Paul Marchione at 202-546-0200.
Additional information, including photos and graphics, is available online at www.kidsandguns.org/entryhall/pressroom.asp.
Source information on all data can be found at www.kidsandguns.org/study/fact_file.asp. [/quote]
Gun deaths for young children are up 21 percent!! It isn't until further down in the news release that we are told the actual numbers: 28 real deaths, compared to 34 real deaths, among 5 to 9 year olds.
While tragic, this is statistically meaningless garbage. It's akin to saying that Podunk Junction is the "fastest-growing town in the US, having tripled in size in just one week." But if Podunk Junction had a population of one resident, and that resident got married to a woman whose minor child will live with them, the town's population tripled overnight. But we are still only talking about three people.
But the advice they give is good advice: keep your guns away from your kids, unless you are there to supervise. Statistically meaningless doesn't count for a whole lot if you become part of the statistic.
pax
"Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable." -- Mark Twain
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Gun Accidents, Suicides Increase Among Kids
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Though overall firearm deaths are down nationwide, an analysis of gun accidents and
suicides among kids shows that within certain age groups there were startling increases.
The greatest increases were among 5-9 year olds, where the number of accidental firearm deaths increased 21 percent and among 10-14 year olds, where there was a 21 percent increase in the number of firearm suicides.
These findings were reported by Victoria Reggie Kennedy, president of the non-political gun safety and gun violence
prevention organization Common Sense about Kids and Guns, on the one-year anniversary of the group's founding.
Common Sense highlighted national mortality statistics from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics that showed how
overall firearm deaths for children and teens (0-19) were down 10 percent in 1998, but non-homicide firearm deaths (i.e.
accidents and suicides) only declined 4 percent from 1997 to 1998 (from 1,643 to 1,577). Common Sense, which focuses on
parental responsibility for preventing kids' unsupervised access to guns, pointed out that in non-homicide categories, especially
among younger kids, there were actually increases.
KEY FINDINGS
-- For kids under 15, non-homicide firearm deaths increased 4 percent (from 283 to 295).
-- Among 5-9 year olds, accidental firearm deaths increased 21 percent (28 to 34).
-- Among 10-14 year olds, firearm suicides increased 21 percent (126 to 153).
"So while many have lauded the overall decrease in gun deaths among children and teens," Kennedy pointed out, "the increase of gun accidents and suicides is troubling. In 1998, one child or teen was killed in a firearm-related accident or suicide every
five-and-a-half hours. And the reality is that many, many of these accidents and suicides were preventable, if parents and
other responsible adults in these children's lives had used common sense in the way they stored their firearm."
"Without any exaggeration, the way a gun is stored can be a matter of life or death for our children. 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."
Kennedy cited other national research which showed that 40 percent of households with children under 18 report having at least one firearm in the house, with 25 percent of those firearms being stored either loaded or unlocked. Nationwide, there are 1.2 million latch key children who return every afternoon to a home with no parent and an unsecured firearm. And approximately 75 percent of all firearm-related accidents and
suicides involving children and teens are committed with a firearm found at home, or the home of a relative or friend.
"First and foremost," Kennedy advised, "before bringing a gun into our homes, we must consider all of the circumstances unique to our own families. Do children live in or visit our home? Does
someone in the family abuse drugs or alcohol? Is someone depressed or prone to violence or abuse? The risk of death or
injury to children is so significant that the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the most effective way to prevent firearm-related deaths and injuries to children and adolescents is not having guns in the home. The Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers, Inc., the leading trade association representing gun manufacturers, also says that firearm ownership is not for everyone and comes with a great responsibility."
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. So 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.
"There are many complex issues that lead to gun violence in our society, and we must address those issues in a serious way,"
Kennedy said as she concluded. "But in the meantime, we must take the common sense steps necessary to keep our children safe.
Remember: The child you save could be your own."
For more information on this topic, go to the Common Sense about Kids and Guns website at http://www.kidsandguns.org or call 877-955-KIDS.
------
EDITORS NOTE: To arrange an interview with Mrs. Kennedy, please call Common Sense about Kids and Guns' Chief of Staff Paul Marchione at 202-546-0200.
Additional information, including photos and graphics, is available online at www.kidsandguns.org/entryhall/pressroom.asp.
Source information on all data can be found at www.kidsandguns.org/study/fact_file.asp. [/quote]
Gun deaths for young children are up 21 percent!! It isn't until further down in the news release that we are told the actual numbers: 28 real deaths, compared to 34 real deaths, among 5 to 9 year olds.
While tragic, this is statistically meaningless garbage. It's akin to saying that Podunk Junction is the "fastest-growing town in the US, having tripled in size in just one week." But if Podunk Junction had a population of one resident, and that resident got married to a woman whose minor child will live with them, the town's population tripled overnight. But we are still only talking about three people.
But the advice they give is good advice: keep your guns away from your kids, unless you are there to supervise. Statistically meaningless doesn't count for a whole lot if you become part of the statistic.
pax
"Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable." -- Mark Twain