The second major threat to adolescents, after auto accidents, is firearm related deaths. This includes both homicide and suicide. Males are at much higher risk than females for firearm related deaths, about 10 times more. And, African American males are at much higher risk than Hispanic, White, Asian, or Native American males (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/adolescent2007.pdf).
Suicide is always a concern. While girls make more suicide attempts, boys are more likely to successfully kill themselves. No one is certain why this happens. But, it is believed to be due to the nature of the means they choose. Boys choose more lethal means, e.g. guns, while girls are more likely to choose pills. Furthermore, adolescent suicide victims who commit suicide with a firearm generally obtain the weapon in their own home (Shah, et. al. 2000).
So, how can we protect young people? Personally, I am in favor of gun control. In a classic study, two similar cities were compared for firearm availability and homicide (Sloan, et al 1988). Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British, Columbia are very similar in geography, climate, history, and socioeconomic status. The main difference between these two cities is handgun regulation and prevalence. Firearm ownership in Seattle was much higher than Vancouver (41% vs. 12%). From 1980 to 1986, Seattle had 388 homicides as compared to 204 in Vancouver. The authors concluded that the relative risk of being a victim of homicide in Seattle as compared to Vancouver was 1.6.
Furthermore, in a major review of the firearm availability and homicide literature, Hepburn and Hemenway (2004) conclude, "the evidence from the U.S. cross-sectional studies is quite consistent; across US. regions, states, and cities where there are higher levels of gun prevalence, homicide rates are substantially higher, primarily due to higher firearm homicide rates." In other words, in the U.S., states with more guns and more lenient gun laws have more homicides. And, when compared to Canada, the U.S. homicide rate is 3 times higher.
Gun control will not eliminate violence but it can reduce it. I've had many lively debates with students on this topic. They like to remind me that young men will fight whether they have guns, knives, or fists. This is largely attributed to testosterone. But, my point is that a knife or fist can only hurt a few but firearms can take out many innocent bystanders. Need I remind anyone of Columbine?
The Los Angeles Police Department has successfully used gift and credit cards to buy back unwanted firearms. In 2009, the L.A.P.D. reclaimed 1700 guns and assault weapons. The police are especially happy to get handguns because they are easy to conceal and use. Guns are exchanged, with no questions asked, for prepaid Visa and Ralphs's markets cards. The police catalog the weapons, remove ammunition, run twine through them so they can't be used, and finally destroy them. The LA Guns for Cash Exchange program is so popular that cars are lined up an hour before the locations open. But, the best result is that communities are a little safer!
So, what can we do to protect youth from firearm related deaths? The solutions are multiple: control firearm availability, buy back weapons, and if necessary teach firearm safety. When I was on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana, CA, the club directors told me it was naïve to think guns could be avoided. They said kids found handguns on the sidewalks when walking home. Their strategy was to teach kids to point the gun in a safe direction, to unload it, and disable the firearm.
Finally, handgun availability and related homicides are cyclical. Trends go up and down. Some decades are safer than others. But, nothing is certain. Youth are more worried about their safety than ever. When I visited a continuation class, the teacher told me her students used to worry about relationships. Now, they worry about staying alive.
Adolescent Healthy Habit #2: Avoid firearms and if necessary, learn firearm safety.
References
Hepburn, L.M. , Hemenway, D. (2004). Firearm availability and homicide: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 9(4). 417-440.
Shah, S., Hoffman, R.E., Wake, L., Marine, W.M. (2000). Adolescent suicide and household access to firearms in Colorado: results of a case-control study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26(3), 157-163.
Sloan, J. H., Kellerman, A. L., Reay, D. T., Ferris, J. A., Koepsell, T. D., Rivara, F. P., Rice, C., Gray, L., &
LoGerfo, J. (1988). Handgun regulations, crime, assaults, and homicide: A tale of two cities. New England
Journal of Medicine, 319(19), 1256-1262.
