According to a majority of Americans, they or a relative have experienced gun violence. This could include witnessing a shooting or being threatened with someone with a firearm. A new, comprehensive survey.
KFF conducted a national survey of 1,271 adults to determine the extent of firearm violence in their lives, particularly in minority communities.
Nearly one in five respondents, which includes 34% of Black adults and 18% of Hispanic adult, stated that a relative had been killed by gun violence.
According to Dr. Selwyn Rogers (a surgeon and founder director of UChicago Medicine’s trauma center), the survey “confirms” that firearm-related injuries are common. “For every person who is killed, there are at least two to three others who were hurt.” These are people who have suffered fractures and may be paralyzed, or otherwise disabled.
Rogers stated that gun violence is not only dangerous for the physical, but also causes fear and trauma in many Americans.
Over half of adults believe that gun-related deaths, crimes, and injuries pose a threat to their community. Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to say that gun violence is a major threat or constant threat than white adults. Around 3 out 10 Black and Hispanic adults feel unsafe from gun violence in their neighborhood. (Hispanics can be any race, or combination of races.
Females also expressed concern over firearm violence with 58% stating that gun-related crimes were a constant threat or major concern compared to 43% for men. More than half (53%) of all intimate partner homicides occur in women. Committed with guns.
Parents worry about their children too.
The KFF survey revealed that nearly one in four parents of children aged under 18 worry about gun violence every day or almost daily. 84% of adults reported having taken at most one precaution to lower their family’s chance of being victim to gun violence. Over a third of adults report that they have avoided large crowds such as music festivals and crowded bars.
During the pandemic, gun violence soared. In 2021, there were 48,830 gun-related deaths. An increase of 23% since 2019According to a Pew Research Center analysis, it was. Even more dramatic was the increase in deaths among children. The number of firearm-related deaths in America under 18 (homicide, suicide and gun-related accidents) increased by 50% from 1,732 in 2019 up to 2,590 in 2021.
Guns are everywhere Become the leading cause for death According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is among children and teens ages 1-19.
A significant increase in gun sales coincided with the pandemic. The average growth was 64% From 2019 to 2020
The KFF survey found that 29% of adults purchased guns at one time or another to protect their family. 44% of parents have children under 18, and 44% keep guns in the home. However, 78% of gun-owning parents fail to protect their children. Follow safety recommendationsLocking guns and ammunition, unloading guns, and storing ammunition in separate places are all practices that have been proven to decrease the chance of thefts, accidents and suicides.
Dr. Abdullah Pratt was an emergency physician at UChicago Medicine trauma centre. He has also lost close friends to gun violence, including his younger brother. He died seven years later at the age of 64 from the effects of that loss.
Pratt stated, “As soon my brother was killed, he stopped taking his medication and started chain-smoking from nowhere.”
Pratt also stated that gun violence can cause communities to be disintegrated.
Residents can feel discouraged from voting or going to school in high-crime areas. Pratt stated that they think “What are I voting for?” if they don’t have basic safety access on a daily basis.
Rogers, a surgeon, pointed out that suicides are a common cause of death, despite mass shootings and homicides dominating headlines. More than half of all accounts are made up of this type There are many firearm-related deaths in America. This can cause ripples of grief within a community. According to researchers, approximately Every suicide leaves at most six people in mourning.
Pratt admitted that he felt guilty for not being able to help his friend, who committed suicide using a gun many years ago. Pratt was contacted by the man after he lost his job, had his car taken away and wanted to discuss his problems. Pratt instead spent the time asking for parenting advice without realizing how much he was hurting.
Pratt stated, “There weren’t any red flags.” “A couple days later, he died.”
Bernice Grisby’s path to success has been shaped by gun violence.
Grisby, now 35 years old, was shot while she was playing on the swings at school in Oakland, California. At age 15, she was talking with friends after school and was again shot. One of her best friends was killed that day and another lost their eyes. Grisby, who was shot in the hip, is still suffering from chronic pain.
Two of her brothers died from gunshot wounds in their 20s. Recently, her 15-year old daughter was robbed at gunpoint.
Grisby wants to save Oakland and not leave it. Through Oakland’s East Bay Asian Youth Center she works as a street counsellor for young people at risk of gun violence. This center aims to support young people who are poor, traumatized, or neglected.
Grisby stated that “my life is a gift of God.” “I’m happy to support youth and feel that I’m making a difference.