Children and teens are more likely to die by guns than anything else

Guns remain the leading cause of death for US children and teenagers, exceeding car accidents since 2020. In 2022, firearms accounted for 18% of childhood deaths aged 1-18, resulting in approximately 3,500 fatalities. This corresponds to around five children per 100,000 in the United States. A recent analysis revealed that no other comparable country ranks firearms among the top four causes of mortality for children. The recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, marks the 45th school shooting of 2024, resulting in the tragic deaths of two students and two teachers. It is the deadliest school shooting since the March 2023 massacre at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.