On Call 4 Kids

Research

The evidence behind the mission

Pediatric firearm injury is a preventable public health crisis. Every statistic below links to its peer-reviewed or authoritative source.

#1 cause of death

Firearm injuries are now the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, surpassing motor vehicle crashes for the first time in decades.

Source: Goldstick et al., NEJM 2022

14% → 46%

Black children make up 14% of the youth population but account for 46% of youth firearm deaths — a stark health disparity.

Source: KFF Issue Brief

Explore the policy areas

Safe Storage

How secure storage reduces unintentional injury, youth suicide, and unauthorized access by children.

Read the research

Background Checks

The evidence behind consistent background checks and reduced firearm harm.

Read the research

Firearm Equipment Safety

Research on equipment associated with the most severe pediatric injuries.

Read the research

References

The peer-reviewed studies and authoritative sources that inform our advocacy.

  1. 1.Goldstick JE, Cunningham RM, Carter PM. Current Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2022 May 19;386(20):1955-1956.
  2. 2.Panchal, N. (2022, October 14). The Impact of Gun Violence on Children and Adolescents. Kaiser Family Foundation.
  3. 3.American Academy of Pediatrics: Firearms Violence Prevention Demands a Public Safety Approach Like Regulation of Motor Vehicles.
  4. 4.Stevens J, Pickett K, Reppucci ML, Nolan M, Moulton SL. National trends in pediatric firearm and automobile fatalities. J Pediatr Surg. 2023 Jan;58(1):130-135.
  5. 5.Blumenthal, R. (2023, January 31). Ethan’s Law: Safe Storage Saves Lives. Ethan’s Law One Pager.
  6. 6.Salhi C, Azrael D, Miller M. Parent and Adolescent Reports of Adolescent Access to Household Firearms in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Mar 1;4(3):e210989.
  7. 7.Anestis MD, Moceri-Brooks J, Johnson RL, et al. Assessment of Firearm Storage Practices in the US, 2022. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Mar 1;6(3):e231447.
  8. 8.Safe Storage of Firearms. American Academy of Pediatrics.
  9. 9.Monuteaux MC, Azrael D, Miller M. Association of Increased Safe Household Firearm Storage With Firearm Suicide and Unintentional Death Among US Youths. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jul 1;173(7):657-662.
  10. 10.Protecting America’s Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence. (2019).