Opinion: Thoughts and prayers have done little to stop shootings
Bright green Converse shoes were the only way authorities could identify 10-year-old Maite Rodriquez. After the massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, Maite’s face was so grossly disfigured by the shooter’s AR-15-style rifle, it could not be used to help identify her body. This weapon, along with over 1,600 rounds of ammunition, was purchased legally by Salvador Ramos just days after his 18th birthday. For all intents and purposes, until May 24, Ramos was a law-abiding gun owner − until he wasn’t.
Gun violence is a public health crisis in our country. In the first 3 months of 2023, the United States surpassed 9,800 deaths by firearm and 130 mass shootings. Thoughts and prayers have done little to curb the increasing number of devastating suicides, gruesome murders and senseless accidents caused by firearms. Together, we implore you to consider the following:
Firearms are the #1 means of child and adolescent death. The United States reached a grim statistic in 2019 when firearm injuries surpassed motor vehicle collisions to become the primary cause of death for youth aged 0-19 years in the United States. Despite this realization, little has been done to protect children.
Stronger laws mean fewer deaths. States with stronger gun laws have lower rates of firearm-related homicide and suicide. Additionally, states with more permissive gun laws have been shown to have increased rates of mass shootings.
Mental illness does not equal violence. Mental health is a commonly cited reason for the increasing firearm-related violence in the United States; however, just 4% of gun violence is attributable to mental illness. More importantly, people with mental health disorders are far more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators. We must not associate the term “mental illness” with “criminal” as this stigma may lead to fewer people seeking mental health care.
The rising toll of suicide. Pediatric suicide death rates among children ages 10 to 14 years in the U.S. nearly tripled between 2007 and 2017, making suicide the second leading cause of death in this age group, with approximately 40% of those deaths involving firearms. In 2019, 19% of U.S. high schoolers seriously considered suicide and 9% attempted suicide. Unfortunately, half of the youth who attempted suicide considered it for less than 10 minutes before acting.
Our goal as pediatricians is to protect and support the health and wellbeing of all children. While we cannot solve this crisis alone, we can all find ways to help make meaningful progress to curb gun violence:
Practice safe storage if you opt to keep a gun in your home. Although the absence of guns from children’s homes and communities is the most effective way to prevent firearm-related injuries and death, even small changes can lead to improved safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all guns be kept locked, preferably in lockbox or safe, unloaded and with ammunition locked separately. Responsible storage of firearms in the home has been shown to reduce the risk of unintentional shootings by 78% and firearm suicide by up to 85%. While it may seem that hiding the gun is enough, studies have shown the vast majority of children know where guns in the home are kept–and ⅓ reported personally handling the firearm. Additional information for parents, providers, and children can be found at ohioaap.org/storeitsafe.
Stay informed on current and pending gun safety legislation. In 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal legislation to address gun violence in nearly three decades.
Make your voice heard and contact your national and state representatives to ask leaders in Congress to continue to work together to ensure the safety of our children. You can also make your voice heard by supporting candidates that support firearm safety legislation. To find a local candidate, you can visit: gunsensevoter.org/states/ohio/
Donate to organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Sandy Hook Promise. Funding is integral to research, advocacy, and interventions aimed at preventing gun violence.
The helplessness that plagues us when confronted with another mass shooting in the news can be combated by the action items above. We urge you to take action to support much-needed change in whatever way you can. Collaboration and advocacy are key to ensuring that our children grow up in safe, supported communities.
This guest column was written on behalf of the Cincinnati Pediatric Society Board and local pediatric emergency medicine physicians: Dr. Erica Walters, president; Dr. Sarah Lawler, treasurer; Dr. Nicole Lacasse, past-president; Dr. Abigail Stein; Dr. Camille Graham; Dr. Scott Callahan; Dr. Charles Deitschel; Dr. Chris Peltier; Dr. Robert Ingberg; Dr. Phil Lichtenstein; Dr. Lisa Fioretti; Dr. Bijan Ketabchi; Dr. Mike Gittelman; & Dr. Wendy Pomerantz.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Thoughts and prayers have done little to stop shootings
