U.S. children and teens are more likely to die because of guns than car crashes, drug overdoses and cancer.

  • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Welp, I looked it up, and one study focused on 14 and younger, about a thousand deaths by car crash, and one focused on 13 to 19, with about 3000 deaths, so even combined and ignoring the overlap in the age range of the studies and going over the age of 18, 15% more kids in the US are getting killed by guns than car crashes, and that gap is widening each year.

    Car crashes, ODs and cancer fatalities among minors are far lower than I thought. Just as an aside.

    • Changetheview@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It might seem low, but when looking at statistics about fatalities, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the many injured and potentially permanently disabled that aren’t included.

      Medical professionals can work magic, and that is great. But non-fatal car crash, overdose, cancer, and gun injuries can also be tragic, both short and long term. Diminished mental capacity, loss of limbs or physical abilities, lifelong pain, the list goes on…

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I had a friend in high school who accidentally shot himself with a gun when he was a small child. He’s in a wheelchair for life.

    • moistclump@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m not American, I’m Canadian. Talking about the statistics is important but holy fucking shit it’s depressing. Any more than 0 accidental deaths is too many.

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Got it. More depressing is that most of those gun deaths are not an accident.

        It’s something like 2%, the other 98% are people choosing to shoot other people.