• The estimated population of the United States in 2025 is approximately 342 million people.¹
• There are 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States. ² [known/registered]
• About 57% of U.S. households do not own a gun. ³
• In 2024, there were 2,526 gun deaths among children and teens aged 1 to 17 in the United States, averaging nearly 7 deaths per day. ⁴

1. https://www.census.gov/ ↩︎
2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/215655/number-of-registered-weapons-in-the-us-by-state/ ↩︎
3. https://www.statista.com/statistics/249740/percentage-of-households-in-the-united-states-owning-a-firearm/ ↩︎
4. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens ↩︎

[Note: Each of these findings are notated with further details and research cited by clicking on the link above.]

• Across states, more guns equates to more violent deaths to children. Children (age 0-14) in low gun states are less likely to commit a homicide, or a suicide, or be the perpetrator in an accidental gun death.
• Child firearm suicide appears more impulsive than suicide by other means.
• Guns are rarely used in infant homicides.
• Parents incorrectly believe their children have not handled the family gun.
• Unsupervised firearm handling by adolescents often involves shooting the gun. Highest among boys age 11-14, typically shot unintentionally at a friend’s house.
• While children are typically shot by other children, 2-4 years-olds usually shoot themselves.
• The large majority of children are shot by an adult who is not a family member.
• Child perpetration of homicide can be classified into 5 categories:
  • (1) the Caretaker, a juvenile, often an older brother, is given the responsibility of caring for an infant. The homicide typically occurs in the residence and blunt force is used (no guns); 
  • (2) Impulsive shooting during play, in which the child typically shoots a sibling or friend; these cases look much like unintentional firearm fatalities;
  • (3) Robbery, a group of youth are trying to steal money, usually from an adult; 
  • 4) Group assault, a group of youth are fighting, usually with other youth; 
  • (5) Killing an adult family member, typically a parent or grandparent. 
• A large longitudinal cohort study of adolescents found that gaining easy access to a firearm in the home was associated with increased depression among girls and increased fear in schools. 78 studies found that the mere presence of weapons increases aggressive thought, hostile appraisals and actual aggression. 
• 20% of homicides of children (aged 2-14) are related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
• 7% of homicides of adolescence aged 11-18 are Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH)
• Many parents incorrectly believe their adolescents could not independently gain access to the household firearm.
• In 2017, firearms became the leading cause of death for children and youth aged 1-24. For more than six decades motor vehicles had been their leading cause of death.
• 12% of US gun owners in homes with children (under age 18) report their child can independently access their firearm.