Child Gun Deaths Continue to Decline
Dateline: 07/27/00
A Health and Human Services report released on Monday, July 24, 2000, indicates the number of children and teens killed with guns in 1998 declined by 10 percent from 1997 and by 35 percent from 1994. The report shows 3,792 children and adolescents under age 20 died in 1998 from firearms compared to 4,223 in 1997 and 5,833 in 1994.
The decrease as reported in, "Deaths: Final Data for 1998," prepared by the CDC also represents a decrease from 16 in 1994 to 10 in 1998, the number of children killed per day by gunfire.
| Discussion: President Clinton credits federal gun control laws and stepped-up enforcement efforts for this reduction in gun deaths. Is the President right, or does the CDC data simply represent a trend that would have developed on its own? Click Here to Express Your Opinions |
"Each day, 10 children and teens are killed by firearms, and that is 10 too many," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "However, it is significant decrease from four years earlier. This indicates that violence prevention efforts are showing results. But we all know how far we still have to go to protect our young people from gun deaths and injuries."
According to HHS, 30,708 people overall died of firearms in 1998, a 5 percent drop from 1997 and a 22 percent drop from the high of 39,595 in 1993. The age-adjusted death rate from firearms was 11.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 1998, a 7.4 percent drop from 12.2 in 1997 and down sharply from the high of 15.6 in 1993.
The report is based on death certificates completed by physicians, medical examiners, and coroners, and reported to the states. (Download the entire report in .pdf format.)
President Clinton's Reaction
Shortly after the release of this data by the CDC, President Clinton issued
a statement
form Camp David stating that his Administration's, "combined efforts to
reduce gun violence and save lives are indeed having an impact."
Stating that gun violence remained a problem "far too prevalent in our nation," he urged parents, schools, communities, law enforcement and the gun industry develop and continue their efforts.
"Parents must ensure that guns are stored safely to prevent accidental shootings. Schools and communities must give children positive alternatives to steer them away from guns and violence. Law enforcement must crack down on gun traffickers who supply young people with firearms and armed criminals who commit violence against our children. And the gun industry must responsibly design, distribute and market its products to make sure that they do not fall into the wrong hands," stated President Clinton.
Finally, the President once again urged Congress to fund his $280 million National Gun Enforcement Initiative and to pass the "common-sense" gun safety bill currently stalled in a House-Senate conference committee. This bill, H.R. 1501 includes requirements for gun buyer background checks at gun shows and inclusion of trigger locks with all guns sold or transferred.
"Working together, we can keep gun violence on the decline and the prospects for our children's future going up," President Clinton concluded.
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Reference Links
CDC - National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Compiles and publishes statistical data on a wide variety of health-related topics. NCHS data systems include data on vital events as well as information on health status, lifestyle and exposure to unhealthy influences, the onset and diagnosis of illness and disability, and the use of health care.Deaths: Final Data for 1998 (Download Report)
Download a .pdf version of the CDC report referenced in the above story. Includes statistics on life expectancy, as well as deaths from disease and other non gun-related causes.National Rifle Association - Legislation Updates
The leading gun owner advocacy group. Opposed to new gun control laws.Handgun Control and The Center to Prevent Handgun Violence
Organization working for stricter gun control laws.Gun Laws, Gun Control and Gun Rights
Covers the legal issues of gun control. From JURIST: The Law Professors' Network.Gun Control vs. Gun Rights: The Issue
Report on the gun debate and campaign money, from the Center for Responsive Politics.
House Considers Gun Control Legislation
Congress considers a "common sense" gun control law requiring trigger locks with all guns and Brady Act background checks at gun shows. From your About Guide.
Usually in under 2 minutes, a gun dealer can check a buyer for a criminal history as required by the Brady Act. What are the potential results and how well has the system been working? From your About Guide.
The gun lobby fights gun control laws in Congress, but never in the Supreme Court. One landmark case from 1939 is the reason. From your About Guide.
In Canada, all gun owners must be licensed and all guns registered. Canadian statistics indicate their laws work. Is this a glimpse into the future of U.S. gun control? From your About Guide.
Read or join in a free online forum dedicated to the gun control issue hosted by your About Guide.
Links to more articles and features related to the gun control issue compiled by your About Guide.
Canada's gun control law faces a Supreme Court challenge from gun control opponents. From Canada Online Guide Susan Munroe.
How the political left views the gun control issue. From About Guide Karen O'Brien.
The very best in links about advocacy and commentary on gun rights, from your About Guide to Civil Liberties J.D. Tuccille.
Related links from one of the most interesting sites on the Web, Guide Bill Bickel's Crime and Punishment.
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