Gun deaths were the leading killer of U.S. children in 2020

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that over 4,300 Americans between the age of 1 and 19 died of firearm-related injuries in 2020, more than died of car crashes, drug overdoses or cancer. According to the research - published last week in the New England Journal Medicine - the rise in youth deaths was part of an overall 33.4% increase in firearm homicides nationwide. More than 390 million guns are owned by civilians in the United States, which has about 331 million people.

Class discussion: Does it surprise you that you are more likely to die of a gunshot than a car crash or cancer? Why or why not? Does having a gun in a home decrease or increase the chances of a resident being shot? By how much? Does your state have a law requiring gun owners to lock stored weapons in something like a gun vault? Why or why not? There is technology that can prevent anyone other than the owner from firing a gun. Why do gun lobbyists oppose manufacturing these weapons? Does it seem some love guns more than kids?