Gun violence remains leading cause of death for US youth, report finds
BALTIMORE - Guns were and continue to be the leading cause of death among children and teenagers, according to a new report from Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
The report, which was published Friday, said in 2022, more than 48,000 people died from gun violence in the U.S.
For minors, ages 1 to 17, guns have caused more deaths than car crashes, overdoses, or cancers. With an average of seven young people dying every day from guns.
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"When young people are shot and killed, they lose decades of potential: the potential to grow up, have a family, contribute to society, and pursue their passions in life," the report said. "These losses are felt across families, neighborhoods, and communities."
Carissa Schnable, left, comforts her sister Bethany Rohrer during a vigil for Rohrer's son Lawrence Morgan on June 22 in Parma, Ohio. Morgan, 17, was shot and killed on June 21 by a 16-year-old gunman who police say knew Morgan. (Photo by Dustin Fran
Researchers have outlined recommendations to curb gun violence, including laws aimed at gun storage and private gun purchasing. Other recommendations include mechanisms to remove teens contemplating suicide, mental health support, and regulating guns being carried in public.
US surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis
The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, in June declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.
To drive down gun deaths, Murthy calls on the U.S. to ban "assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for civilian use," introduce universal background checks for purchasing guns, regulate the industry, pass laws that would restrict their use in public spaces and penalize people who fail to safely store their weapons.
RELATED: Surgeon general declares gun violence in US a public health crisis
None of those suggestions can be implemented nationwide without legislation passed by Congress, which typically recoils at gun control measures. Some state legislatures, however, have enacted or may consider some of the surgeon general’s proposals.
Where does Harris, Trump stand on gun control?
Vice President Kamala Harris has called for implementing universal background checks and expanding red flag laws to take away guns from people who are deemed dangerous or unstable. She also wants to ban so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Republicans frequently describe Democrats as a threat to the second amendment, while Democrats describe their proposals as common sense measures to protect public safety.
Harris surprised some viewers during her debate with Donald Trump when she said that she’s a gun owner, raising the fact to counter her Republican opponent’s accusation that she wants to confiscate firearms.
Parkland father speaks on gun violence prevention
LiveNOW's Mike Pache spoke with gun safety advocate Tony Montalto, the president of Stand with Parkland. Montalto's daughter Gina was tragically killed during the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. More LiveNOW from FOX streaming video
Trump has pledged to continue to defend the Second Amendment, which he claims is "under siege," and has called himself "the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House."
When Trump was president, there were moments when he pledged to strengthen gun laws. After a high school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people and wounded 17 others, Trump told survivors and family members that he would be "very strong on background checks." He claimed he would stand up to the NRA but later he backpedaled, saying there was "not much political support."