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The world pays more attention when mass murder killings, like the one in Uvalde, Texas, take innocent lives in the United States.
Less noticeable is the increasing rate of daily gun deaths of children under 14 years of age. As Voice of America correspondent Veronica Balderas reports, researchers say firearms are the leading cause of death for American children.
“My nephew was hit twice. “Once in the chest up close, and once in the head in the form of execution.”says the grandmother of a teenager killed with a gun.
He was 15-year-old Malachi Jackson, killed in Washington last month. His grandmother says a suspect has been caught and a criminal investigation is under way.
“It started with two children fighting. They were exchanging words. In Washington, these kids have guns, just like they have ice cream. “It should not be so easy for a child to take up arms.”says the grandmother, who wore a mask for her safety during the interview on camera.
Jackson is one of 500 teens killed with firearms this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which records gun deaths based on data made public. Some of these deaths are homicides, others are accidental.
“For teenagers 12 years old, or over 10 years old, it is gang activity and many other things. Children under the age of 10 die from the gun after finding their father’s gun, which has not been properly stored. “They play with weapons and do not understand that the damage from them is fatal.”says Mark Bryant, executive president of the Archive of Gun Violence.
Mass shootings this month in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York, have shocked the world. But everyday violence, like Jackson’s murder, is an epidemic, researchers say.
Gun deaths among young people increased by almost 30% in 2020.
Gun violence kills more children than car accidents, drug overdoses and even cancer, say University of Michigan researchers.
“Sometimes it is access to weapons that are not theirs, and sometimes it is bullying that is done to them at school. “Almost 60% of gun deaths are actually suicides, and most of them occur in rural areas.”says Marc Zimmerman, professor at the Institute for the Prevention of Gun Injuries at the University of Michigan.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, experts say it is easy to see what is boosting statistics – emotional disorders like growing anxiety and depression, or easy access to guns in many US states.
“Anxiety disorders are the most common diagnosis. “Especially when combined with substance use, we see self-destructive behavior and the destruction of others on an unprecedented level.”says psychologist Gregory Jantz.
Malachi Jackson’s grandmother and family are still in mourning and want politicians to keep guns out of the hands of children.
“There are deaths on our streets every day, two or three children a day! We are angry, sad, worried. We need stronger laws! ”says Jackson’s grandmother.
The National Arms Association, which for years promoted the liberalization of gun laws, did not respond to VOA’s request for an interview.
The association’s annual convention begins Friday in Houston, Texas, just days after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two elementary school teachers at Robb. VOA
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