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The Impact of Gun Violence on Children and Adolescents

Nirmita Panchal Published: Oct 14, 2022

Firearm injuries and deaths in the United States have increased in recent years and adversely affect many children and adolescents. In 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and below and in the first six months of 2022, there were over 300 mass shootings across the U.S., including the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

In addition to physical harm, direct and indirect exposure to gun violence can negatively affect the mental health and well-being of youth. This brief explores trends in firearm-related injury and mortality among children (ages 17 and below) and how they vary by race and sex. We analyze data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wonder injury and mortality database and define firearm-related deaths as gun assault deaths, suicide deaths by firearm, deaths due to accidental firearm discharge, legal intervention leading to firearm death, and firearm deaths from an undetermined cause. This brief also examines the negative mental health consequences stemming from exposure to gun violence and describes recent policy responses.

During the pandemic, firearm-related deaths increased among children, with seven children per day dying by firearm in 2021. From 2011 to 2021, nearly 18,500 children ages 17 and younger died by firearm. During this period, firearm death rates gradually rose until 2017, then slowed through 2019, before sharply rising in the first two years of the pandemic (Figure 1). From 2019 to 2021, the firearm death rate among children increased by 50% (from 2.4 to 3.6 per 100,000). This translates to seven children per day dying by firearm in 2021. Throughout the past decade , assaults have accounted for at least half of all youth firearm deaths while suicides by firearm have accounted for at least three in ten of these deaths. The spike in youth firearm deaths during the pandemic have primarily been driven by gun assaults . Firearm-related injuries among children have also increased in recent years – from 9.9 per 100,000 in 2010 to 15.5 per 100,000 in 2020 (the latest firearm injury data available).

By 2021, suicide deaths by firearm accounted for nearly half of all suicides among children and adolescents. Following a brief period of decline, suicide deaths by firearm increased by 26% among youth, from 657 deaths in 2019 to 857 deaths in 2021 (Figure 2). Meanwhile, suicide deaths by other means have declined among youth since 2018. As a result, suicide deaths by firearm accounted for 47% of all youth suicides in 2021.

Firearm death rates sharply increased among Black and Hispanic youth during the pandemic. In 2021, the rate of firearm-related deaths among Black youth was 12.0 per 100,000 – substantially higher than any other racial and ethnic group and six times higher than White youth (Figure 3). Although Black children made up 14% of the youth U.S. population in 2021, they accounted for 46% of youth firearm deaths. Additionally, from 2018 to 2021, the rate of firearm-related deaths doubled among Black youth and increased by 50% among Hispanic youth. While firearm death rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) youth fluctuated over the same period, they remained higher than the rates of their White peers. White youth experienced relatively stable and lower firearm mortality rates from 2018 to 2021 (from 2.0 to 2.3 per 100,000), while Asian youth had the lowest firearm mortality rates across the period (Figure 3).

The recent increases in firearm deaths among Black and Hispanic youth were primarily driven by gun assaults and suicides by firearm. During the pandemic, the largest increases in gun assault deaths across racial and ethnic groups were among Black youth (80% increase from 556 deaths in 2019 to 1,000 deaths in 2021) and Hispanic youth (46% increase from 195 deaths in 2019 to 284 deaths in 2021) (Figure 4). Additionally, although suicide deaths by firearm are highest among White youth, the largest percent increases of these deaths were among Black youth (77% increase from 60 deaths in 2019 to 106 deaths in 2021) and Hispanic youth (48% increase from 79 deaths in 2019 to 117 deaths in 2021) (Figure 4). Data on firearm-related injury rates by race and ethnicity was not available. In general, children of color are more often exposed to gun violence than their White peers. A recent study found that this disparity in exposure to gun violence has been exacerbated during the pandemic, particularly for Black children. Further, a separate study found that children living in areas with a high concentration of poverty are more likely to experience firearm-related deaths and poverty disproportionately affects children of color.

Male youth are over four times more likely than their female peers to die by firearm. From 2018 to 2021, the rate of deaths due to firearms increased by 53% among male youth but remained lower and stable among female youth (Figure 5). Firearm-related injury rates were also substantially higher for male youth than females (25.9 vs. 4.5 per 100,000) in 2020 (the latest firearm injury data available).

Gun violence can adversely affect the mental health and well-being of children. Children are exposed to firearms in a number of ways, including domestic violence and firearms stored at home, and neighborhood and school violence . This exposure may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety , in addition to other mental health concerns. Specifically, survivors of firearm-related injuries, including youth survivors, may be at increased risk of mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Gun violence may also lead to challenges with school performance , including increased absenteeism and difficulty concentrating. Additionally, research has found that access to firearms , particularly in the home, is a risk factor for suicide deaths among children and adolescents . Nearly half of suicide attempts occur within 10 minutes of the current suicide thought, further underscoring access to firearms as a risk factor for suicide.

Although mass shootings, including school shootings, account for a small portion of firearm-related deaths, they can negatively impact the mental health of children and communities at large. For example, research has found that youth antidepressant use and suicide risk increased in communities with exposures to school shootings. Additionally, a survey prior to the pandemic found that the majority of teenagers and their parents felt at least somewhat worried that a school shooting may occur at their school. In response to school shootings, nearly all schools practice active shooter drills. Some research suggests these drills have a negative psychological impact on participants. Although research is limited on how mass shootings affect individuals not directly exposed to them, current literature suggests that information and knowledge of mass shootings may be linked to increased levels of fear and anxiety .

Recent policies address gun reform and expand mental health services for children and adolescents. In response to increasing gun violence, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was recently passed. This legislation introduces several gun reform provisions, such as strengthening background checks for young adults and reducing gun access for individuals with a history of domestic violence. The legislation also focuses on youth mental health, including expanding school-based mental health services and providing trauma care to students in need. Prior legislation , such as the American Rescue Plan Act and state-level policies, have also provided pathways to expand mental health services for students in schools. The Biden-Harris administration has put forth several additional initiatives aimed at addressing youth mental health , including expanding the behavioral health workforce and suicide prevention efforts. The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced an initiative aimed at promoting Black youth mental health – this comes at a time when suicide rates among Black youth have sharply increased. Additionally, the federally mandated crisis number, 988 , was rolled out this summer and can connect individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or other behavioral health emergencies to crisis counselors. Further, after an extended period of funding freezes and limited research , recent federal budgets have allocated funding for gun violence research.

While some measures have been taken toward gun reform and addressing youth mental health, challenges remain. Gun violence disproportionately affects many children of color, particularly Black children, and this disparity has grown in the light of the pandemic. This may lead to increased mental health concerns among children of color. This comes at a time when, in general, concerns about youth mental health have grown but access to and utilization of mental health care may have worsened . Children of color may face added barriers to mental health care in light of long-standing cultural inequities and a lack of culturally informed care. Continued efforts to address exposure to gun violence and improve access to mental health services may help mitigate adverse impacts among youth.

• Mental Health
• Gun Violence
• Adolescents
• Race/Ethnicity
• Coronavirus

news release

• Firearm Deaths of Children and Adolescents Continued to Rise in 2021, Especially Among Black Youth

Also of Interest

• Americans’ Experiences With Gun-Related Violence, Injuries, And Deaths
• Child and Teen Firearm Mortality in the U.S. and Peer Countries
• Do States with Easier Access to Guns have More Suicide Deaths by Firearm?
• Recent Trends in Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns Among Adolescents
• The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services

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Safety in Numbers is our new monthly newsletter highlighting all things Team Research here at Everytown. Get to know our work and get to know us!

The Impact of Gun Violence on Children and Teens

Last Updated: 2.20.2023

Learn More:

• Child & Teen Gun Safety
• Guns in Schools
• Mass Shootings
• Reconsider Active Shooter Drills
• Secure Gun Storage
• Stop Arming Teachers

Introduction

Children and teens in the US experience staggeringly high rates of gun deaths and injuries. They are also harmed when a friend or family member is killed with a gun, when someone they know is shot, and when they witness and hear gunshots. Gun homicides, non-fatal shootings, and exposure to gun violence stunt lives and, because of their disproportionate impact, reflect and intensify this country’s long-standing racial inequities.

Black and Latinx children and teens are impacted by gun violence at higher rates than their white peers, in part because of deliberate policy decisions that created segregated neighborhoods and underinvestments in their communities. 1 Hanks A, Solomon D, Weller, CE. Systematic inequality. Center for American Progress. February 21, 2018. https://ampr.gs/2okO7qy ; Chandler A. Interventions for reducing violence and its consequences for young black males in America. Cities United. 2016. https://bit.ly/2xGoNPG . Exposure to gun violence has an impact on children’s and teens’ psychological and mental well-being and affects their school performance, among other factors. When neighborhoods and schools are not safe from gun violence, entire generations of American children are affected.

When Davonte was asked what he wanted for his birthday, he didn’t ask for a big celebration, he only said, “I’m glad I made it to see 18.” He was shot and killed less than one week after turning 18. He had previously spoken before the Baltimore City Council on youth violence prevention.

Key Findings

The deadly impact of guns on children and teens in america.

Annually, nearly 4,000 children and teens (ages 0 to 19) are shot and killed, and 15,000 are shot and wounded—that’s an average of 53 American children and teens every day. 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021. Children and teens aged 0 to 19. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, “A More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States, December 2020, https://everytownresearch.org/report/nonfatals-in-the-us/. And the effects of gun violence extend far beyond those struck by a bullet: An estimated three million children witness a shooting each year. 2 Finkelhor D, Turner HA, Shattuck A, Hamby SL. Prevalence of childhood exposure to violence, crime, and abuse: results from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. JAMA Pediatrics . 2015;169(8):746-54. Everytown analysis derives this number by multiplying the share of children (aged 0 to 17) who are exposed to shootings per year (4%) by the total child population of the US in 2016 (~73.5M). Gun violence shapes the lives of the children who witness it, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting.

Gun deaths among children and teens by intent

Last updated: 2.20.2023

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens . 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death, Injury Mechanism & All Other Leading Causes. Data from 2021. Children and teenagers aged 1 to 19. This is a uniquely American problem. Compared to other high-income countries, American children aged 5 to 14 are 21 times more likely to be killed with guns, and American adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 are 23 times more likely to be killed with guns. 4 Grinshteyn E, Hemenway D. Violent death rates in the US compared to those of the other high-income countries, 2015. Preventive Medicine . 2019;123:20-26.

When American children and teens are killed with guns, 62 percent are homicides—nearly 2,500 deaths per year. 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021. Ages 0 to 19. Homicide includes shootings by police. Children are particularly impacted by the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence . For children under age 13 who are victims of gun homicides, 85 percent of those deaths occur in the home, and nearly a third of those deaths are connected to intimate partner or family violence. 6 Fowler KA, Dahlberg LL, Haileyesus T, Gutierrez C, Bacon S. Childhood firearm injuries in the United States. Pediatrics . 2017;140(1). Between 2015 and 2022, nearly two in three child and teen victims of mass shootings died in incidents connected to domestic violence. 7 Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. Mass Shootings in America. https://every.tw/1XVAmcc . March 2023. Data drawn from 16 states indicate that nearly two-thirds of child fatalities involving domestic violence were caused by guns. 8 Adhia A, Austin SB, Fitzmaurice GM, Hemenway D. The role of intimate partner violence in homicides of children aged 2-14 years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine . 2019;56(1):38-46.

Another 33 percent of child and teen gun deaths are suicides—1,300 per year . 9 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021. Ages 0 to 19. And firearm suicide has been rising dramatically: Over the past decade, the firearm suicide rate among children and teens has increased by 66 percent. 10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A percent change was developed using 2012–2021 crude rates for children and teens aged 0 to 19. For people of all ages, having access to a gun increases the risk of death by suicide by three times. 11 Anglemyer A, Horvath T, Rutherford G. The accessibility of firearms and risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine . 2014;160(2):101-110. Research shows that an estimated 4.6 million American children live in homes with at least one gun that is loaded and unlocked. 12 Matthew Miller and Deborah Azrael, “Firearm Storage in US Households with Children: Findings from the 2021 National Firearm Survey,” JAMA Network Open 5, no. 2 (2022): e2148823, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.48823 . The combination of suicidal ideation and easy firearm access can be lethal. When children under the age of 18 die by gun suicide, they are likely to have used a gun they found at home: Over 80 percent of child gun suicides involved a gun belonging to a parent or relative. 13 Johnson RM, Barber C, Azrael D, Clark DE, Hemenway D. Who are the owners of firearms used in adolescent suicides? Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 2010;40(6):609-611.

Gun violence manifests in a myriad of ways in American schools, and school shootings have created new anxieties for the younger generation of students. According to an Everytown analysis , there have been at least 549 incidents of gunfire on school grounds from 2013 to 2019. 14 Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. Keeping Our Schools Safe: A Plan for Preventing Mass Shootings and Ending All Gun Violence in American Schools. everytownresearch.org/school-safety-plan . February 2020. Of these, 347 occurred on the grounds of elementary, middle, or high schools, resulting in 129 deaths and 270 people wounded. 15 Everytown’s Gunfire on School Grounds database includes 201 incidents on colleges and universities. These incidents were excluded from analyses to focus on gunfire on K-12 school grounds. While mass shootings like the incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School—and, more recently, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Santa Fe High School—are not commonplace, schools are more likely to experience gun homicides and assaults, unintentional shootings resulting in injury or death, and gun suicide and self-harm injuries. All incidents of gun violence in schools, regardless of their intent or victim count, compromise the safety of students and staff.

Children and teens who live in cities are at a significantly higher risk of gun homicides and assaults compared to their peers in rural areas. Ninety-two percent of all hospitalizations of children for firearm injuries occur in urban areas (counties with over 50,000 residents). 16 Herrin BR, Gaither JR, Leventhal JM, Dodington J. Rural versus urban hospitalizations for firearm injuries in children and adolescents.  Pediatrics.  2018;142(2): e20173318. Everytown calculation from dividing the number of urban hospitalizations by the total number of hospitalizations. These injuries have lifelong consequences: Almost 50 percent of the wounded have a disability when they are discharged from the hospital. 17 DiScala C, Sege R. Outcomes in children and young adults who are hospitalized for firearms-related injuries.  Pediatrics . 2004;113(5):1306–12. Fifteen- to 19-year-olds in urban areas are hospitalized for firearm assaults at a rate eight times higher than 15- to 19-year-olds in rural areas. 18 Herrin BR, Gaither JR, Leventhal JM, Dodington J. Rural versus urban hospitalizations for firearm injuries in children and adolescents.  Pediatrics . 2018;142(2): e20173318. Children and teens from 15 to 19; Nance ML, Denysenko L, Durbin DR. The rural-urban continuum: variability in statewide serious firearm injuries in children and adolescents.  Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.  2002;156(8):781-5. Urban and low-income youth are much more likely to witness gun violence than suburban and higher-income youth. 19 Stein BD, Jaycox LH, Kataoka S, Rhodes HJ, Vestal KD. Prevalence of child and adolescent exposure to community violence.  Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review . 2003 Dec;6(4):247-64.

The Disproportionate Impact of Gun Violence on Black and Latinx Children and Teens

As with gun violence generally, impact among children and teens is not equally shared across populations. Black children and teens in America are 17 times more likely than their white peers to die by gun homicide. 20 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using five years of the most recent available data: 2016 to 2020. Children and teens aged 0 to 19, Black and white defined as non-Latinx origin. Homicide includes shootings by police. Black children and teens are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized for a firearm assault than white children. 21 Everytown for Gun Safety, “A More Complete Picture.” Latinx children and teens are 2.7 times more likely to die by gun homicide than their white peers. 22 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021. Ages 0 to 19. Latinx defined as all races of Latinx origin. White defined as non-Latinx origin. Homicide includes shootings by police.

White and Black children may live in the same city yet experience it differently. Due to policy decisions that enforce racial segregation and disinvestment in certain communities, gun violence is concentrated in Black neighborhoods within cities, many of which are marked by high levels of poverty and joblessness and low levels of investment in education. 23 Chandler A. Interventions for reducing violence and its consequences for young Black males in America. Cities United. 2016.  https://bit.ly/2xGoNPG . A high concentration of these factors in a neighborhood is referred to as “concentrated disadvantage” and is a strong predictor of violent crime. Youth in neighborhoods that experience concentrated disadvantage can be isolated from institutions such as schools and jobs, increasing the risk that they will engage in crime and violence, thus feeding into this vicious cycle of violence. 24 Ibid.

Black and Latinx children in cities are exposed to violence at higher rates than white children. Exposure includes witnessing violence, hearing gunshots, and knowing individuals who have been shot. Black children in Columbus, OH, were exposed to 66 percent more violence, on average, than white children. 25 Browning CR, Calder CA, Ford JL, Boettner B, Smith AL, Haynie D. Understanding racial differences in exposure to violent areas: integrating survey, smartphone, and administrative data resources.  Annals of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  2017;669(1):41-62. In Chicago, Latinx children had 74 percent greater odds of exposure to violence, and Black children 112 percent greater odds, than white children. 26 Zimmerman GM, Messner SF. Individual, family background, and contextual explanations of racial and ethnic disparities in youths’ exposure to violence.  American Journal of Public Health.  2013;103(3):435-442. When children in these cities are exposed to gun violence, their communities and schools often lack the resources to help them heal. 27 Kohli S, Lee I. What it’s like to go to school when dozens have been killed nearby.  Los Angeles Times . February 27, 2019.  https://lat.ms/2VrTDqt .

Although Black students represent 15 percent of the total K-12 school population in America, they make up 25 percent of K-12 victims of gunfire at school.

US Department of Education. “State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary and Secondary Education, 1998-99 through 2016-17; National Elementary and Secondary Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity Projection Model, 1972 through 2028,” Common Core Data (CCD). (2019). https://bit.ly/2Gl05d3

The disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black and Latinx children and teens extends to schools. Among the 335 incidents of gunfire at K-12 schools between 2013 and 2019, where the racial demographic information of the student body was known, 64 percent occurred in majority-minority schools. 28 Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. Keeping Our Schools Safe: A Plan for Preventing Mass Shootings and Ending All Gun Violence in American Schools. everytownresearch.org/school-safety-plan. February 2020. Everytown gathered demographic information on the student population of each school included in the database for which data were available. A majority-minority school is defined as one in which one or more racial and/or ethnic minorities (relative to the US population) comprise a majority of the student population. Everytown identified the race of 102 of the 208 student victims identified in the database. Of those, 25 were identified as Black, 57 as white, 23 as Hispanic or Latino, 3 as Asian-Pacific Islander, and 4 as other. The analysis includes in the count of these victims both people shot and wounded and deaths resulting from homicides, non-fatal assaults, unintentional shootings, and suicides and incidents of self-harm where no one else was hurt. Although Black students represent approximately 15 percent of the total K-12 school population in America, they constitute 25 percent of the K-12 student victims of gunfire who were killed or shot and wounded on school grounds. 29 US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data (CCD). “State nonfiscal survey of public elementary and secondary education,” 1998-99 through 2015-16; National elementary and secondary enrollment by race/ethnicity projection model, 1972 through 2027. Everytown averaged the student population size, both total and Black student populations, for the years 2013 to 2018. February 2018.  https://bit.ly/2MTkw3C . Everytown identified the race of 95 of the 177 student victims identified in the database. Of those, 23 were identified as Black, 54 as white, 13 as Hispanic or Latino, 1 as Asian-Pacific Islander, and 4 as other. The analysis includes both injuries and deaths resulting from homicides, assaults, unintentional shootings, and suicides and incidents of self-harm where no one else was hurt, in the count of these victims.

While the above discussion shows the disparate experiences of gun violence by race and ethnicity, the data further show that gun violence is concentrated in specific neighborhoods in cities, with some schools and certain communities experiencing gun violence with an alarming frequency.

• Of the schools covered by gunshot detection technology in Washington, DC , just 9 percent experienced nearly half of all gunfire incidents. Four schools, including two middle schools and two high schools, had at least nine incidents of gunfire within just 500 feet of the school. 30 Bieler S, La Vigne N. Close-range gunfire around DC schools. Urban Institute. September 2014.  https://urbn.is/2Hazr8y . Gunshot detection technology covered 66 percent (116 out of 175) of traditional public schools and charters during the study period.
• Similarly, in Los Angeles , 34 percent of middle school students in one neighborhood with high rates of violence reported exposure to firearm violence. 31 Aisenberg E, Ayón C, Orozco-Figueroa A. The role of young adolescents’ perception in understanding the severity of exposure to community violence and PTSD.  Journal of Interpersonal Violence . 2008;23(11):1555-78.
• At certain urban middle schools in Texas , nearly 40 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls have witnessed a gun being pulled. 32 Barroso CS, Peters RJ, Kelder S, Conroy J, Murray N, Orpinas P. Youth exposure to community violence: association with aggression, victimization, and risk behaviors.  Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.  2008;17(2):141-155.
• A study of 7-year-olds in an urban neighborhood found that 75 percent had heard gunshots, 18 percent had seen a dead body, and 61 percent worried some or a lot of the time that they might get killed or die. 33 Hurt H, Malmud E, Brodsky NL, Giannetta J. Exposure to violence: psychological and academic correlates in child witnesses.  Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine . 2001;155(12):1351-6.

The Far-reaching Impact of Children’s and Teens’ Exposure to Gun Violence

Children are harmed in numerous ways when they witness violence. Children exposed to violence, crime, and abuse are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol; suffer from depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder; resort to aggressive and violent behavior; and engage in criminal activity. 34 Finkelhor D, Turner HA, Ormrod R, Hamby S, Kracke K. Children’s exposure to gun violence: a comprehensive national survey. US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  https://bit.ly/PwXoZN . 2009; Morris E. Youth violence: implications for posttraumatic stress disorder in urban youth. National Urban League.  https://bit.ly/2KBpOyg . March 2009; Fowler PJ, Tompsett CJ, Braciszewski JM, Jacques-Tiura AJ, Baltes BB. Community violence: a meta-analysis on the effect of exposure and mental health outcomes of children and adolescents.  Development and Psychopathology . 2009;21(1):227-59. Exposure to community violence, including witnessing shootings and hearing gunshots, makes it harder for children to succeed in school. 35 Hurt H, Malmud E, Brodsky NL, Giannetta J. Exposure to violence: psychological and academic correlates in child witnesses.  Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine . 2001;155(12):1351-6; Schwartz D, Gorman AH. Community violence exposure and children’s academic functioning.  Journal of Educational Psychology . 2003;95(1):163-173.

Children’s exposure to gun violence can also erode physical health. When children live in neighborhoods where gun violence is common, they spend less time playing and being physically active, with one study finding that children said they would engage in an additional hour of physical activity every week if safety increased in their neighborhood. 36 Molnar BE, Gortmaker SL, Bull FC, Buka SL. Unsafe to play? Neighborhood disorder and lack of safety predict reduced physical activity among urban children and adolescents.  American Journal of Health Promotion.  2004;18(5):378-86.

Stress related to gun violence affects student performance and well-being in schools. School-aged children have lower grades and more absences when they are exposed to violence. 37 Hurt H, Malmud E, Brodsky NL, Giannetta J. Exposure to violence: psychological and academic correlates in child witnesses.  Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine . 2001;155(12):1351-6; Schwartz D, Gorman AH. Community violence exposure and children’s academic functioning.  Journal of Educational Psychology . 2003;95(1):163-173. High school students who have been exposed to violence have lower test scores and lower rates of high school graduation. 38 Harding DJ. Collateral consequences of violence in disadvantaged neighborhoods.  Social Forces . 2009;88(2):757-784; Finkelhor D, Turner H, Shattuck A, Hamby S, Kracke K. US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Children’s exposure to gun violence, crime, and abuse: an update. September 2015.  https://bit.ly/2tK7ah6 . One study estimated that Black children in Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods spend at least a week out of every month functioning at lower concentration levels due to local homicides. 39 Sharkey P. The acute effect of local homicides on children’s cognitive performance.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.  2010;107(26):11733-11738. In Syracuse, NY, elementary schools located in areas with high concentrations of gunshots had 50 percent lower test scores and higher rates of standardized test failure compared to elementary schools in areas with a low concentration of gunshots. 40 Bergen-Cico D, Lane SD, Keefe RH. Community gun violence as a social determinant of elementary school achievement.  Social Work in Public Health . 2018;33(7-8):439-448.

Black high school students in the US are over twice as likely as white high school students to miss school due to safety concerns. 41 Sheats KJ, Irving SM, Mercy JA, et al. Violence-related disparities experienced by Black youth and young adults: opportunities for prevention.  American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  2018;55(4):462-469. In Chicago, following spikes in neighborhood violence, students reported feeling less safe, experiencing more disciplinary problems, and having less trust in teachers. 42 Burdick-Will J. Neighborhood violence, peer effects, and academic achievement in Chicago.  Sociology of Education.  2018;91(3):205-223.

Recommendations

One essential way to protect our youth and prevent children’s exposure to gun violence in their communities and schools is to prevent people with dangerous histories from ever getting a gun. Recommendations for comprehensive gun safety laws include:

Background checks on all gun sales

The foundation of any comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy must be background checks for all gun sales. Under current federal law, criminal background checks are required only for sales conducted by licensed dealers. This loophole is easy to exploit and makes it easy for convicted felons or domestic abusers to acquire guns without a background check simply by finding an unlicensed seller online or at a gun show.

Extreme Risk laws

These laws, increasingly being adopted by states, empower family members and law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily block a person from having guns if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Extreme Risk laws —also known as Red Flag laws—can help prevent suicide, too. That is meaningful because nearly six out of every 10 gun deaths are suicides, 43 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. Firearm suicide deaths to total gun deaths ratio developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021. and the suicide rate among children and teens has been increasing exponentially in the past 10 years.

Secure gun storage and child access prevention laws

Secure storage laws require people to store firearms responsibly to prevent unsupervised access to firearms. A subset of these laws, known as child access prevention laws, specifically target unsupervised access by minors. Secure firearm storage practices are associated with reductions in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens—up to 85 percent depending on the type of storage practice. 44 Grossman DC, Mueller BA, Riedy C, et al. Gun storage practices and risk of youth suicide and unintentional injuries.  JAMA . 2005;293(6):707-714. Study found households that locked both firearms and ammunition had an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm deaths than those that locked neither.

Keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers

Children are frequent casualties of domestic violence homicides when a gun is involved. Research also shows that the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. 45 Campbell JC, Webster D, Koziol-McLain J, et al. Risk factors for femicide within physically abuse intimate relationships: results from a multisite case control study.  American Journal of Public Health . 2003;93(7):1089-1097. It is imperative to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers to keep women, children, and their families safe. When abusers are convicted of domestic violence or subject to final restraining orders, they should be blocked from purchasing guns and required to turn in those they already own. We also need to close the “boyfriend loophole” by making sure those laws apply to abusers regardless of whether the violence is directed towards a spouse or a dating partner.

In addition to evidence-based gun safety laws, there are a number of programs and strategies that communities and schools can adopt to keep children and teens safe from gun violence, some examples of which include:

Threat assessment programs

Threat assessment programs—like the Everytown and AFT-endorsed Comprehensive Student Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) 46 Cornell DG, Sheras PL.  Guidelines for responding to student threats of violence.  Longmont, CO: Sopris West; 2006. —help schools identify students who are at risk of committing violence and get them the help they need in order to resolve student threat incidents. 47 Ibid. The programs generally consist of multi-disciplinary teams that are specifically trained to intervene at the earliest warning signs of potential violence and divert those who would do harm to themselves or others to appropriate treatment. Several studies have found that schools that use threat assessment programs see fewer students carry out threats of violence; and experience fewer suspensions, expulsions, and arrests. 48 Cornell, D, Maeng, J, Burnette AG., et al. Student threat assessment as a standard school safety practice: results from a statewide implementation study.  School Psychology Quarterly . 2017;33(2):213-222; Cornell D., Maeng, J. Burnette AG, Datta P, Huang F, Jia Y. Threat assessment in Virginia schools: technical report of the Threat Assessment Survey for 2014-2015. Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. May 12, 2015; Cornell DG, Allen K, Fan X. A randomized controlled study of the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines in kindergarten through grade 12.  School Psychology Review.  2012;41(1):100-115. Importantly, studies have shown that CSTAG threat assessment programs generally do not have a disproportionate impact on students of color. 49 Ibid.

Safe and equitable schools

School communities must look inside their schools to make sure they are encouraging effective partnerships between students and adults, while also looking externally to ensure that they are a key community resource. Schools should review discipline practices and ensure threat assessment programs are not adversely affecting school discipline. They should work to become “community schools” by building effective community partnerships that provide services that support students, families, and neighborhoods. If and when employing school resource officers (SROs), schools should take steps to build relationships between communities and law enforcement.

Youth-centric intervention programs

A variety of programs exist to help children cope with witnessing firearm violence. School-based programs, including social emotional learning , have been shown to reduce the negative effects of children’s exposure to gun violence. Mentoring programs are effective at improving academic performance and reducing youth violence. Chicago’s Safe Passage program makes children feel safer on their way to and from school and may increase school attendance. To learn more about two specific organizations that help children succeed after witnessing violence, please explore these resources about the Hip Hop Heals and Becoming A Man programs.

If you or someone you know has been exposed to gun violence, there are resources that can help. Everytown’s Children’s Responses to Trauma provides information for parents and adults about how to support children and teens who have experienced a shooting or are upset by images of gun violence. Additional information to help with the emotional, medical, financial, and legal consequences of gun violence for individuals and communities is on our Resources page.

Everytown Research & Policy is a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to understanding and reducing gun violence. Everytown Research & Policy works to do so by conducting methodologically rigorous research, supporting evidence-based policies, and communicating this knowledge to the American public.

Two Decades of Suicide Prevention Laws: Lessons from National Leaders in Gun Safety Policy

In order to understand the variability in state-level firearm suicide rates, Everytown has examined the role of state gun safety policies.

The Smoking Gun

An online resource committed to exposing the gun industry’s role in our gun violence epidemic today.

Ghost Guns Recoveries and Shootings

Everytown Research & Policy has collected examples of reported murders and shootings using ghost guns since 2013.

Inside the Gun Shop: Firearms Dealers and Their Impact

This report spells out the basic facts about licensed dealers and the relationship between these dealers and gun crimes.

Did you know?

Every day, 120 Americans are killed with guns.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021.

Last updated: 2.13.2023

The Lives They Lived

Childhood’s Greatest Danger: The Data on Kids and Gun Violence

By Robert Gebeloff ,  Danielle Ivory ,  Bill Marsh ,  Allison McCann and Albert Sun Dec. 14, 2022

By Robert Gebeloff, Danielle Ivory, Bill Marsh, Allison McCann and Albert Sun

For much of the nation’s history, disease was the No. 1 killer of children. Then America became the land of the automobile, and by the 1960s, motor-vehicle crashes were the most common way for children to die. Twenty years ago, well after the advent of the seatbelt, an American child was still three times as likely to die in a car accident as to be killed by a firearm. We’re now living in the era of the gun.

Leading causes of death for children ages 1 through 18

Motor-vehicle

Suffocation

Drug overdoses

The gun-death rate for children is nearly five in every 100,000. It was flat for more than a decade starting in 2000, and most years fewer than three in every 100,000 children were killed by guns. In 2014, the rate began to creep up, and by 2020 guns became the leading killer .

Last year was a particularly violent one: 3,597 children died by gunfire, according to provisional statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death rate from guns was the highest it has been in more than 20 years. While the statistics for this year are incomplete, it is clear that the carnage has not receded.

Annual gun deaths, ages 1 through 18

2021: 3,597

In May, the nation watched as horror unfolded in Uvalde, Texas. Yet another school ripped apart by bullets — yet another group of children to mourn. Yet another shooting in a long line of school shootings. And though the number of school shootings has recently risen to the highest level on record, the overall picture is so much worse; these shootings account for less than 1 percent of the total gun deaths suffered by American children.

The Lives They Lived: The stories of 12 American children killed by guns this year.

No group of American children has been spared, but some have fared far worse. Last year, nearly two-thirds of gun deaths involving children — 2,279 — were homicides. Since 2018, they have increased by more than 73 percent. Most homicides involved Black children, who make up a small share of all children but shoulder the burden of gun violence more than any others, a disparity that is growing sharply.

The number of children who die by suicide with a gun has also risen to a historical high over the last decade. Last year, suicides made up nearly 30 percent of child gun deaths — 1,078. Unlike homicides, suicides disproportionately involve white children, mostly teenage boys. A decade ago, the number of white children who killed themselves with a gun totaled around 500 annually; in three of the last five years, that figure has surpassed 700.

The share of gun suicides for Black and Hispanic children has been growing, too. Still, in America, among children who die by gunfire, Black and Hispanic children are more likely to be killed by others, and white children are more likely to kill themselves.

Gun accidents that kill children have also ticked up in the last decade, though they are relatively uncommon, totaling fewer than 150 in most years.

Annual gun deaths of children, ages 1 through 18, by type, race and ethnicity

Gun homicide

Gun suicide

Gun accident

Researchers who study gun violence say that it is difficult to explain exactly why gun deaths among children have risen so quickly, but most emphasize that the increased availability of guns — especially handguns, which tend to be used in homicides and suicides and also tend to be stored less safely than some other types of guns — has most likely played a role.

What is clear is that the United States is an extreme outlier when it comes to gun fatalities among children. When researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation recently compared a set of similarly large and wealthy nations, they found that among this group, the United States accounted for 46 percent of the child population but 97 percent of all child gun deaths.

There is no comprehensive data describing the nature of each fatal shooting in America — say, the number of children who died in circumstances related to domestic violence or gang-related fights or accidental shootings. The C.D.C. collects information on the gender and race of each child shot and killed. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that has tracked deaths and injuries related to gun violence since 2014, compiles location and other data for thousands of fatal shootings.

Using this data, The New York Times set out to examine how guns are shaping American childhood, and to understand which children have been most at risk. The analysis focused on children ages 1 through 18, which includes many high school seniors. (Infants have their own distinct mortality risks, and their deaths are often studied separately from children ages 1 and older.)

David Hemenway, a professor of health policy at Harvard University and co-director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, said that gun-ownership rates and other factors may explain some of the demographic differences in how children die by gunfire, but more data is needed to answer the question definitively.

Overall, he said, he worried that the proliferation of guns in America would lead to more and more deaths among children. “Where there are more guns around, there’s more death,” he said. “It’s just so easy when you get in arguments, when you rob somebody — if you have a gun, it’s so much easier to kill.”

Black children represented almost half of all gun deaths and two-thirds of gun homicides involving youths last year, despite making up about only 15 percent of children in America. This disparity of death has grown significantly worse in recent years. Black children are now nearly six times as likely as white children to be killed with a gun.

Annual gun-death rates for children, ages 1 through 18, by race and ethnicity

Native American

per 100,000

Pacific Islander

The recent spike in gun deaths for Black children builds on a continuing phenomenon in which some children are exposed to much more violence than others. While guns became the leading cause of death for American children only recently, they have been the leading cause of death among Black children for at least two decades.

About a decade ago, Black boys were killed with guns at a rate of about 12 out of every 100,000. Five years ago, it was 15 out of every 100,000. By last year, nearly 26 out of every 100,000 Black boys in the United States were killed. Comparatively, the gun-death rate for white boys last year was less than five out of every 100,000.

Gun-death rates have risen most drastically for Black boys, but the rate has also risen in recent years for white and Hispanic boys, and for Black girls. Although girls make up a small portion of total gun deaths, the imbalance between Black girls and all other girls is vast and quickly widening.

Total gun deaths of children, ages 1 through 18, by race and ethnicity

Black and Hispanic boys and girls are likelier, on average, than their white counterparts to live in neighborhoods with high levels of poverty, a situation that often stems from structurally racist practices like segregation. And they’re more likely to be proximate to the kinds of violence that are concentrated in those neighborhoods.

Although the pandemic cannot be fully responsible for a trend that began well before the pandemic, researchers said that stresses related to Covid, which has killed Black and Hispanic people at higher rates than white people, might have exacerbated existing differences in gun deaths among both adults and children in recent years.

Jonathan Jay, an assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health, recently co-published research showing that racial disparities in childhood exposure to neighborhood gun violence grew during the pandemic.

“In places where violence is endemic, people pick up guns because they feel unsafe, and that perpetuates cycles of violence,” Jay said. “During the pandemic, the trauma of losing loved ones to Covid, seeing Black and brown people being killed by police and then seeing an increase in violence likely have all perpetuated cycles of violence.”

He added, “Because of this cyclical nature, it makes sense that a lot of folks continue to feel unsafe.”

The geography of gun violence is complex. It is growing fastest in urban areas but is also growing in suburban neighborhoods and in rural America. Most of the states with the highest rates of child gun deaths are in the South, but nowhere is immune.

Child gun deaths since 2018 in the United States as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive

1 child killed

100 children killed

One pattern is consistent: Poor neighborhoods and those with a high population of Black residents, whether in cities or suburbs, are more likely to suffer from gun violence than others. Children growing up in poor neighborhoods in the Houston metro area are twice as likely to be shot and killed as other children there. In the Chicago area, the child gun-death rate in poor neighborhoods is 7.5 times as high as in others. In the St. Louis area, it’s 10 times as high.

Child gun deaths since 2018, as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive, and poverty in three major cities

25%+ poverty rate

Chesterfield

This geographic analysis is based on data from the Gun Violence Archive, which collects information from law enforcement and media reports, but excludes most suicides, which are rarely publicly reported.

Historically, child gun deaths have occurred in the same neighborhoods that are experiencing the marked rise in gun violence today. What is different now is the scale. These communities, already the sites of so much loss, are now where children are shot and killed more often and at a higher concentration than even a few years ago — shootings frequently occur within an area of just a few blocks.

Older children die from gun violence at a much higher rate than younger ones. But another disturbing part of the current crisis is the rapid rise in deaths of younger children, who account for a growing share of the toll. Precise reasons for the spike in gun deaths among the youngest children are not known, but the increase coincides with an unprecedented rise in gun sales since 2019.

Increase in gun deaths by age group, 2019-21

1,791 deaths

1,264 deaths

Overall, gun deaths among children jumped sharply in 2020 and again in 2021. A 31 percent increase for children 17 and 18 since 2019 is troubling enough, but the increase was 74 percent for children 9 and younger.

“There were two things that I feel are largely responsible,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University. “One is the socioeconomic upheaval that occurred in the country. No. 2 is that the share of households with children that own guns keeps increasing.”

Uncertainty related to the pandemic, the 2020 presidential election, the protests over policing and the country’s unsettled economic outlook were all drivers of gun sales, Khubchandani said, and many buyers were people who had never owned guns. The wider presence of these weapons, he said, increased the chance of guns being involved in accidents, being used in domestic disputes and being available to young people contemplating suicide.

About 45 percent of gun homicides of children and more than half of suicides last year were among children under 17. Once again, racial disparity is present at all ages. Black children are now far more likely to be shot and killed than white children at every age — from the moment they can walk until they are old enough to vote.

The sharp rise and stark inequality of these gun deaths have a devastating impact — beyond the already horrific impact of any child dying. “The cost of gun violence extends so far beyond that,” said Maya Rossin-Slater, an associate professor of health policy at Stanford University. “In addition to each life lost, there are whole communities, whole families, whole neighborhoods, whole schools where people experience these lasting adverse impacts on so many measures of their well-being.”

Rossin-Slater said she worried that the peers of the children killed were being affected by this trauma during the most formative years of their childhood and adolescence, which would have negative downstream effects for their mental and physical health, educational trajectories, economic stability and, broadly, their happiness.

“We have to think about the repercussions of it,” she said, “for decades to come.”

Sources : The primary source on child gun deaths through 2020 was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Underlying Cause of Death data. For 2021, provisional data was used, though the population used in calculating rates for 2021 was held at 2020 levels because of changes in race and ethnicity definitions in the newer data’s population estimates. Cause-of-death categories were built using definitions employed by leading mortality researchers at the University of Michigan. The geographic analysis was conducted using data gathered by the Gun Violence Archive , a nonprofit that collects information from law enforcement, the news media and other reports of gun episodes. For each location of a child gun death, demographic information about the neighborhood was attached using census tract data from the 2020 American Community Survey. Map data from OpenStreetMap.

Additional work by Sarah Cahalan.

Robert Gebeloff is a Times reporter specializing in data analysis.

Danielle Ivory is an investigative reporter for The Times.

Bill Marsh is a graphics editor for The Times.

Allison McCann is a reporter and graphics editor for The Times.

Albert Sun is a graphics editor for The Times.

Additional design and development by Jacky Myint.

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Reducing gun violence: Stanford scholars tackle the issue

After 19 children and two teachers were slaughtered by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, many Americans are asking, yet again, how to prevent future acts of senseless violence from occurring. What gun laws need to be changed? Why is it so difficult to pass regulations? How can Second Amendment rights be balanced with firearm safety? 

Stanford scholars have been studying these issues from a range of perspectives, including law, politics, economics, and medicine. Here are some of their findings.

Update: May 25, 2022: This story was originally published on Feb. 26, 2018, and has been updated to include new content.

Causes, impacts of gun violence

Uncovering the causes of gun violence has been a challenge, in part because research is limited by federal legislation that constrains research funding on the issue. Scholar Nigam Shah at the Stanford School of Medicine has written about how this has affected empirical study. But that has not deterred scholars from examining its impacts. David Studdert, also at the School of Medicine, has studied the devastating consequences of gun violence, particularly the risks it poses to public health.  

Maya Rossin-Slater, an associate professor of medicine and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), has also looked at the long-term impact of gun violence, specifically among American children who experienced a shooting at their school. Rossin-Slater found that they have higher rates of absenteeism, lower high school and college graduation rates, and by their mid-twenties, earn lower incomes.

Below is some of that research. 

Californians living with handgun owners more than twice as likely to die by homicide, study finds

Residents who don’t own a handgun but live with someone who does are significantly more likely to die by homicide compared with those in gun-free homes, research shows.

New study of gun violence in schools identifies long-term harms

Research from SIEPR’s Maya Rossin-Slater finds that students exposed to school shootings face “lasting, persistent” adversity in their educational and long-term economic outcomes.

Shirin Sinnar on the Buffalo shooting, hate crimes, and domestic terrorism

In the wake of the Buffalo shooting, Stanford Law School’s Shirin Sinnar discusses the scale of white supremacist violence in the U.S. and the rise of hate crimes.

Disconnect: The gap between gun violence and research in numbers

Gun violence is much discussed but little studied, largely due to federal decisions governing research funding. A new analysis highlights just how big the gap between the violence and our knowledge of it is. The answer? It’s huge.

Supporting students exposed to school shootings

Maya Rossin-Slater talks about her research into the mental health impact of severe school violence.

Panel discusses how shootings affect those unscathed by bullets

A panel of faculty members at the School of Medicine said shootings can affect the mental health of people close to the violence.

California handgun sales spiked after two mass shootings

In the six weeks after the Newtown and San Bernardino mass shootings, handguns sales jumped in California, yet there is little research on why – or on the implications for public health, according to a Stanford researcher.

Mass shootings: Public face of a much larger epidemic

While mass shootings have become the public face of gun violence, they account for less than 1% of the 40,000 firearm deaths each year.  

Short-term hospital readmissions for gun injuries cost $86 million a year

A study from Stanford researchers has found that readmissions account for 9.5% of the $911 million spent annually on gun-injury hospitalizations.

Supporting children through loss

Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann talks about how to help young people experiencing grief.

Firearm injuries in children, teens costly for U.S. health care system, Stanford study finds

The average cost of initial hospitalization to treat pediatric gun injuries is about $13,000 per patient and has risen in recent decades, a Stanford Medicine study found.

Investigating psychiatric illnesses of mass shooters

Ira Glick and his collaborators studied the psychiatric state of 35 mass shooters in the United States who survived the incidents, which took place between 1982 and 2019.

The silent cost of school shootings

SIEPR’s Maya Rossin-Slater finds the average rate of antidepressant use among youths under age 20 rose by 21 percent in the local communities where fatal school shootings occurred.

New study analyzes recent gun violence research

Consensus is growing in recent research evaluating the impact of right-to-carry concealed handgun laws, showing that they increase violent crime, despite what older research says.

Handgun ownership associated with much higher suicide risk

Men who own handguns are eight times more likely to die of gun suicides than men who don’t own handguns, and women who own handguns are 35 times more likely than women who don’t.

Advice on how to cope with the threat of school shootings

Victor Carrion offers advice on how families can cope with the stress of school safety.

Reducing gun violence

Many Americans are demanding practical steps to reduce gun crime. One way is to have more stringent gun safety policies, such as legislation requiring guns to be stored safely, more stringent background checks, or as President Biden announced Tuesday, a federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. 

Research has shown that states with tighter policies save lives: One study by Stephanie Chao found that states with stricter gun laws have lower rates of gun deaths among children and teenagers, and states with child prevention access laws are linked with fewer gun suicides in this age group.

“If you put more regulations on firearms, it does make a difference,” said Chao, assistant professor of surgery and senior author of the study. “It does end up saving children’s lives.” Her analysis found that states with the strictest laws had a mortality rate of 2.6 per 100,000 and for states with the least strict laws, mortality rate was almost double at 5.0 per 100,000.  

John Donohue: One tragic week with two mass shootings and the uniquely American gun problem

In a Q&A, Stanford Law School gun law expert John J. Donohue III discusses mass shootings in the U.S., the challenges facing police when confronting powerful automatic weapons and the prospect of gun safety laws.

Lax state gun laws linked to more child gun deaths

States with strict gun laws have lower rates of gun deaths among children and teenagers, and laws to keep guns away from minors are linked with fewer gun suicides in this age group, a Stanford study found.

Improved gun buyer background checks would impede some mass shootings, Stanford expert says

Stanford Law Professor John Donohue says a background check system that was universal and effectively operated could impede gun acquisition by people who commit mass shootings.

How to solve more gun crimes without spending more money

Simple tweaks to how police process bullet casings could dramatically improve their forensic data.

Reducing civilian firepower would boost police and community safety, Stanford expert says

In addition to restricting the firepower a person can amass, Stanford law Professor John J. Donohue advocates efforts to build trust between communities and law enforcement agencies as a way to enhance both police and citizen safety.

Stricter gun laws reduce child and adolescent gun deaths, Stanford study finds

Laws that keep guns away from young people are especially strongly linked to lower rates of gun suicides in youth.

Gun legislation and policy

For nearly three decades, law Professor John Donohue III has studied what can be done to prevent gun violence in the United States. A lawyer and economist, Donohue explores how law and public policy are connected to gun violence, including how gun laws in the U.S. compare to other countries, as well as how legislation varies across the states, to better understand the effect that has on rates of violence. 

“The U.S. is by far the world leader in the number of guns in civilian hands,” Donohue explained . “The stricter gun laws of other ‘advanced countries’ have restrained homicidal violence, suicides and gun accidents – even when, in some cases, laws were introduced over massive protests from their armed citizens.” 

Here are some of his findings, and other research related to legislating gun safety in the U.S.

Stanford’s John Donohue on guns, mass shootings and the law in the U.S.

On Nov. 30, American students were once again the victims of a school shooting. Stanford law Professor John Donohue discusses the case and gun violence in the U.S.

How U.S. gun control compares to the rest of the world

While deaths from mass shootings are a relatively small part of the overall homicidal violence in America, they are particularly wrenching. The problem is worse in the U.S. than in most other industrialized nations. And it’s getting worse.

4 gun control steps U.S. needs now

John Donohue pens an opinion piece for CNN laying out four steps the United States should take to strengthen gun legislation.

Violent crime increases in right-to-carry states

Stanford Law School Professor John Donohue found that states that adopted right-to-carry concealed handgun laws have experienced a 13 to 15 percent increase in violent crime in the 10 years after enacting those laws.

Another mass shooting: An update on U.S. gun laws

In a Q&A, John Donohue discusses gun safety law and legislative developments.

Stanford GSE holds teach-in on research into gun violence in schools

Education scholars look at the evidence behind policy ideas to address school shootings.

Will Americans ever think differently about guns?

Stanford medicine and law professor David Studdert thinks more public health evidence is needed before cultural attitudes around gun safety and violence will change.

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Essays on Domestic Violence

A topic of domestic violence had been under the public radar for a long time – writing a domestic violence essay is not a task you would have received, for example, in the 18th century. Thankfully it is not the case anymore and domestic violence is a globally recognized issue rather than a taboo. You may ask “are domestic violence essays difficult to write?” The answer is definitely yes – matters like these are difficult to comprehend, and even more so to put into writing. That is why domestic violence essay samples provided below will be of great help to you when attempting to write your essay. Our samples of essays on domestic violence showcase different academic approaches to this public issue and may serve as guidelines for conducting your own study.

Emerging issues in the world have taken a divergent scope influenced by the ever dynamic life of man. It is quite clear that observable steps can be seen wwhen it all started to the war against servitude during the dark ages, millitary demonstration in the era of making thrones and...

The violence that results from domestic misunderstandings is a serious social issue as it possesses the threat of tearing down contemporary founded families and societies. It’s committed by an individual as a result of making a conscious judgment to enforce power and control over an intimate companion. Abusers often resort...

Words: 1325

Behind Closed Doors. CIAC UK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvbXGyNk6LY Text 1 Reflection: Before watching this film, I used to think that domestic violence involves only physical abuse such as beatings. However, it occurred to me that emotional abuse in marriages is the most common leading to great psychological pain.  I also thought that domestic misunderstandings...

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i. What is the broader context of society that must be considered when assessing the task environment of organizations that offer shelter services for intimate partner violence (IPV)? The broader context of society that must...

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As attributed by the authors, media is known for framing femicide stories within domestic violence context. Focusing on the victims' behavior is one of the media frames employed in domestic violence (Gillespie et al., 2013). It incorporates excusing of the perpetrator and to some extent blaming the victim. Focusing on...

Domestic and family violence is common in many homes involving wives, children, or husbands. In Mills’ article domestic violence is presented as abuse towards women especially by feminists who tend to defend them without investigating the issue. Men are judged and associated with hurting their wives and never given a...

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The puppies are handled delicately by the boy and the female. The puppies' dark brown irises shone from the tears they were crying. The doctor put his tools away and petted the puppies. Dogs and cats can be trained to sit peacefully next to one another without fighting. Sadie, my cat, moves the toys...

Domestic violence is largely caused by various types of pain or agony, including those that are psychological, physical, mental, and sexual. Domestic violence also includes family violence or spousal abuse, which refers to an overt pattern of violent acts committed by one partner against the other in close affiliations such...

Words: 1921

Fear of retaliation, dependency on the perpetrator, and social norms are some of the major barriers preventing victims of domestic violence from reporting such incidents. (Payne & Wermeling, 2009, p. 3). The community must be made aware of the significance of reporting such instances to the appropriate authorities. The police...

A pattern of abusive behavior between related parties known as "domestic violence" is used by one party to keep control over the other's intimate companion. Threats and acts may be physical, mental, psychological, sexual, and/or economic. Intimidation, humiliation, seclusion, manipulation, terrorizing, blaming, inflicting harm on another person, and threatening behavior...

Jean Kilbourne briefly discusses the function of advertising and in-depth examines the secondary effects it has, contending that it promotes success, ideals of love and sexuality, romance, images, and most importantly, normalcy. Kilbourne concentrates on "who they are and who they should be" in terms of what women are represented...

Family violence and homosexuality are two prevalent deviant behaviors that exist in societies all over the world. While family violence has become criminalized due to a decline in acceptance, homosexuality has moved away from being seen as a criminal behavior. The criminalization of domestic abuse and the decriminalization of homosexuality...

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Almost each and every other year there gets to be cases and more cases related to gun violence where from one point one gets to hear about some suicide by gun, some forceful assaults, some kind of accidental occurrences with a gun and many more. With the unending rising cases linked to the same, there still is quite a lot to be looked at especially when trying to cover the same situation and be able to make sure that one […]

The Las Vegas Shooting, Gun Control and American Violence

The night of October 1, 2017 at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas was interrupted by the sound of gun fire that was opened by a gunman from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (Time, 2017). As Time reported, in this massive shooting, which went on for 10-15 minutes at about a crowd of 20,000 people, more than 500 people were injured and at least 50 people were killed (Time, 2017). With this tragic […]

Stop Gun Violence

Guns in America are ruining our society. Watch the news any day and you will most likely see either a school shooting ora shooting at some type of gathering. For some children going to school is horrifying because they are extremely disturbed by the school shootings that are going in our society. Children as young as kindergarten are learning how to act in the case of a school shooting. Yet, guns are killing innocent people by being able to have […]

Examining the Deep Impact of U.S. Gun Violence on American Society

U.S. gun violence has had put a struggle on american living and the quality of it. Its put America into a spiral of fear, a lot of people don't know the extent of how its effecting are lives and the way we live. Schools have built there security, airports and all other large businesses and or public businesses have also done the same. Laws have been getting stricter and stricter but simply some people just dont listen and obey those […]

The Problem of Mass Shootings

Mass shootings are problematic, because they are getting more deadly and more frequent. Mass shootings are defined as a single shooting incident which kills or injures four or more people, including the assailant/shooter ("Guns in the US: The Statistics"). Mass shootings have been shown to be contagious, meaning that a mass shooting one day increases the likelihood of others in the following days (Leatherby). Five of the eighteen most lethal shootings in America since 1949 have occured between 2007 and […]

Combating Gun Violence

A school shooting is an attack at an educational institution, such as a school or university, involving the use of firearms. The first recorded school shooting in the United States took place in 1840, when a law student shot and killed his professor at the University of Virginia. Despite that crime rates in the United States are declining, and homicide specifically is especially rare, many people believe that school shootings are becoming epidemic, occurring more frequently than the have in […]

How to Change the Gun Violence Situation in the US

In the United States, the number of cases of gun violence have increased tremendously. The reason why these numbers have been so high is because guns have been made easily accessible to the general public. The implications that gun violence has had on the country are so damaging that it is time that the American government come up with ways in which the availability of guns to the American citizens can be restrained. Due to the gun violence situation; people […]

Public Health Solutions: Gun Violence

Gun violence accounts for approximately 35,000 deaths and 89,600 injuries annually in the United States (Gun Violence in America, 2018). It consists of both intentional and unintentional assault, domestic and family violence, law enforcement intervention, homicide, suicide, self-harm, and undetermined causes (Gun Violence in America, 2018). According to Santhanam (2018), in 2016 the United States ranked second in gun-related deaths, after Brazil and before India. Gun violence is a prominent issue in American society and is certainly a public health […]

The Problem of the Gun Violence

In success central, I attended a small breakout session about gun violence. At first, I thought this breakout session was going to be over gun control and politics but it was more in depth. The session was about how a victim truly feels after being affected by gun violence. Some of the statistics that I learned at the session is, gun-related deaths are now the third leading cause of death for American children. One of the main reasons i enjoyed […]

The Problem of Gun Politics in the United States

The Brady campaign to prevent gun violence states every day 8 children and teens die from gun violence, 4 are murdered, 3 die from suicide and 1 killed unintentionally. Every day 39 children and teens are shot and survive, 31 injured in an attack, 1 survives a suicide attempt and 7 shot unintentionally Not only is the 2nd amendment giving access to have a gun to protect ourselves, it is giving others access to commit violent crimes that involve a […]

Why Gun Violence Increasing

Gun violence has had a drastic increase over the years, leaving the United States desperate for laws to be implemented concerning the well-being and safety of citizens. Terrifying events surrounding gun violence have left researchers with no option but to investigate gun laws and regulations. Only some states require permits in order to purchase a firearm and background checks are required by federal law to anyone purchasing a gun as well. A citizen at the age of 21 is legal […]

Reducing School Gun Violence in New Mexico

School gun violence in the United States is on the rise. Since 2014 there have been an average of five school shootings per month. Since Sandy Hook in 2012, there have been at least 239 school shootings nationwide. In these school shootings 438 were shot, and 138 were killed, and 16 shootings were classified as where 4 or more people were shot. (Preventing School Violence: Assessing Armed Guardians, School Policy, and Context.) More people, including students and teachers, were killed […]

Mental Health Screenings and the Effect on Gun Violence

Historically speaking, guns were used for hunting and for protection. In the late 1700's, the Revolutionary War began from Britain's pursuit to take away the colonists weaponry and oppress them. Lexington and Concord was the beginning of the fight for freedom. When Britain surrendered at Yorktown in 1781, the colonists had won their independence. The first constitution called the Articles of Confederation was ratified by all thirteen colonies in 1781 and was in place until 1789 when the U.S Constitution […]

Gun Violence in Parkland Florida

There are over thirty thousand deaths a year in the United States related to gun violence with Americans using guns for defensive purposes as many as a million times every year. These deaths are a result of suicides, homicides and accidents. It is evident that gun violence and gun control are issues of serious national importance and are worth debating. The main issues and arguments found in the debate over gun control in the United States have not changed a […]

Gun Control Vs Gun Rights

In the U.S, there is a lot of controversy about gun control laws. There are protests, arguments, and laws that not many agree with because it does not support their Second Amendment rights. What truly did the Founding Fathers mean by the Second Amendment? Pro-gun supporters believe it was meant for individuals to have access to guns while gun control supporters believe it was for trained officials. Many people are trying to find a solution on how it should be […]

Why does Drug Trafficking Cause Gun Violence

There is a strong relationship between drug trafficking, drug use, and gun violence. The research attempts to come up with a solution for the research question why does drug trafficking cause gun violence. Most youths have been involved in the use of drugs like marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, crack cocaine, heroin, and cocaine hence being involved in violence including gun violence (Johnson, Golub, Dunlap, 2000) This research will play a major role in improving academic research, sow the existing causal effect […]

The State of Gun Violence in the US

Gun violence in today's America has become routine and common. This violence causes a surprising number of deaths and injuries throughout the United States. The main lethal weapon used to take part in violence is the gun. That's one of the reason why stricter gun control policy is needed to make it impossible to own a gun for those who should not own them in the first place. Taking such action could make our neighborhood is a safer place to […]

Gun Violence in America

The issue of gun violence has attracted a heated debate in the US. With time, people have advanced significantly in gun availability and the power to buy military-style firearms, which has led to more likelihood of criminals getting guns that they can use for mass destruction. Yet, burning gun ownership can be a significant issue since most civilians who buy firearms do so to ensure their protection and safety. Many supporters of gun ownership postulate that firearms do not kill, […]

Students Protest and Addresses Gun Violence

A schools' biggest fear is having a shooter come onto campus. There has been so many incidents on the news that people are trying to find solutions for this issue. Students need to feel safe while they are learning. I have found three articles of school shootings that go into detail about what took place on those days. Each author has had an interesting stand-point about what should happen next. In this paper, i will be comparing the authors perspective […]

The Second Amendment – Firearm Legislation

Americans are being murdered at unprecedented rates and little action has been attempted to prevent similar events from reoccurring. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ninety-six Americans die by firearms every day (The Editorial Board). Ninety-six lives end because of a bullet. It is unethical and immoral for that many people to perish, and for there to be little change made. Unfortunately, legislators can not just simply change firearm laws due to the long-standing and well-respected second […]

Gun Violence and the Second Amendment

According the Cornell Law Studies Institute, the second amendment states, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The Second Amendment of the constitution is one of the most misunderstood and confusing sentences in the history of America. The 27-word sentence has a partial collectivist ora while still maintaining the individualistic right to keep and bear arms. Before discussing the reasons behind […]

How the Government Can Decrease Gun Violence

There should be more gun control laws to control gun violence. The debate on gun control in America has been up for deliberation for decades. Almost forty thousand people are killed each year due to homicidal, accidental, and suicidal use of guns (Politics 7). Despite the fact that America has approximately twenty thousand gun laws, there are still often occurring crime due to gun violence. To fix this problem, the government should enforce stricter background checks for all gun sales, […]

Gun Violence in America: who is to Blame?

Too often, when you raise the issue of guns in this country, it starts a debate with both sides pointing the blame at each other. In the middle, we hear the voices of children who’ve witnessed the killing of their friends and teachers and who are sounding out for action. The question is, will we listen to them? Will we care enough to do something? Horrific tragedies like the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School a little under a […]

Gun Violence African American

“You just a black man in this world, you just a barcode, ayy.” This lyric ends the song “This is America”, by Childish Gambino. Childish Gambino is an African American rapper who captured the eyes of the U.S with his music video of “This is America”. Written by Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson, the video carries a message surrounding guns and violence in America from the eyes of a black man. It indicates that the brutal violence, racism and police […]

What is Gun Violence

Have you ever seen any news on social medias related to gun violence? I bet most of the people will give an answer “yes”. As what I said, gun violence and gun control have already became very hot topics, and people are still having debates about whether gun ownership should be protected or prohibited. In order to improve the discussion surrounding gun violence and gun control, we should change the focus and make new policies. And I also believe governments, […]

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It is tough to write persuasive essays about gun violence, as the topic itself is pretty painful and controversial. It has a lot to do with deaths. Gun-related violence is cruel as it takes a person a single move – to pull a trigger. The problem with firearms and the effects of legalization is quite relevant in today’s society in the United States. That is why we have seen so many gun legalization titles these years. First, students should get acquainted with gun violence essay examples to plunge into the issue. Next, it’s necessary to search for essay topics that briefly state your idea and work on the thesis statement. Next, it’s vital to study the violent crime problem and describe the necessity to find the solution, stop the assassinations, and reduce the number of crimes. Work meticulously on arranging the introduction, conclusion, outline of your essay. Studying samples such as speech and argumentative essay on gun violence in America or research paper on gun violence will reinforce your expertise in the domain. Lastly, if you still need a hint, check gun violence topics for essay papers on our web. This might give you inspiration for your forthcoming paper.

Essays About Gun-related Violence Gun violence in America is slowly becoming one of the biggest problems the country faces today. America as a continent has had more mass shooting than any other country in the world post-WWII. It is estimated that 31% of all mass shootings happen in the US, but only 5% of the world’s population lives here. As casualties continue to mount Colleges in America need to study why this is occurring in the society that students live in. This open discussion will lead to a better understanding. An essay about gun violence is an important part of many modules now, for example in sociology modules, or psychology. Students must look at why this is happening and how to reduce it. We provide free essays on gun control and a variety of topics within this area. Our range of essays includes; the cause and effect of mass shootings, the dangers, and issues a firearm can implicate, public health solutions, understanding gun violence and a broader range of topics that encompass the issue. We can write an argumentative essay, persuasive essay or a research paper on gun violence, and we have many papers already completed by experts in the field. Our papers outline rational arguments for both sides of the argument that continues to divide America. The professors we use for our papers are experienced in the field and have been working on and studying gun laws in America for several years. This ensures quality work and expert knowledge.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Crime — Domestic Violence

Essays on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence essay topics and outline examples, essay title 1: unveiling the shadows: understanding the causes, effects, and prevention of domestic violence.

Thesis Statement: This essay sheds light on the complex issue of domestic violence by examining its root causes, the devastating effects on victims and society, and strategies for prevention and intervention.

• Introduction
• Defining Domestic Violence: Types and Prevalence
• Causes of Domestic Violence: Analyzing Societal, Psychological, and Cultural Factors
• Impact on Victims: Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Consequences
• Children and Domestic Violence: The Far-Reaching Effects on Youth
• Legal Framework: Laws and Policies Addressing Domestic Violence
• Prevention and Intervention: Support Services, Shelters, and Community Outreach
• Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence for a Safer Society

Essay Title 2: Behind Closed Doors: The Cycle of Abuse, Power Dynamics, and Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence

Thesis Statement: This essay explores the cycle of abuse, the power dynamics within abusive relationships, and strategies to empower survivors of domestic violence to break free from the cycle.

• The Cycle of Abuse: Tensions, Violence, and Reconciliation
• Power and Control: Understanding the Dynamics of Abusive Relationships
• Barriers to Leaving: Factors That Keep Victims in Abusive Situations
• Supporting Survivors: Advocacy, Counseling, and Safe Havens
• Legal Remedies: Restraining Orders, Prosecution, and Victim Protection
• Education and Awareness: Preventing Domestic Violence Through Knowledge
• Conclusion: Empowering Survivors to Reclaim Their Lives

Essay Title 3: The Role of Education and Societal Change in Eradicating Domestic Violence

Thesis Statement: This essay discusses the pivotal role of education and societal change in eradicating domestic violence, emphasizing the importance of promoting healthy relationships and challenging harmful norms and stereotypes.

• Educational Initiatives: Teaching Healthy Relationships and Consent
• Media Influence: Portrayals of Domestic Violence and Their Impact
• Community Engagement: Grassroots Movements and Support Networks
• Breaking Stereotypes: Challenging Gender Norms and Toxic Masculinity
• Preventive Measures: Recognizing Early Warning Signs and Providing Resources
• International Perspectives: Global Efforts to Combat Domestic Violence
• Conclusion: Building a Safer and More Respectful Society for All

Domestic Violence: Uncovering The Dark Reality

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The Relation of Gender and Status in The Incidents of Domestic Violence

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Violence Against Women - a Serious Health & Social Problem

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Domestic violence refers to a pattern of abusive behaviors, physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual, occurring within a domestic or intimate relationship. It involves the exertion of power and control by one person over another, typically perpetrated by a current or former partner, spouse, or family member.

Physical Abuse: the use of physical force that causes bodily harm or injury to a partner or family member. Emotional or Psychological Abuse: this form of abuse aims to control, manipulate, or undermine the victim's emotional well-being. Sexual Abuse: any non-consensual sexual activity or coercion within an intimate relationship. Financial Abuse: this form of abuse entails controlling or limiting the victim's access to financial resources. Verbal Abuse: it includes the use of words, insults, threats, or derogatory language to demean, belittle, or intimidate the victim.

Domestic violence is a pressing issue in the United States, affecting individuals of all genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Understanding the landscape of domestic violence in the country is crucial in raising awareness and implementing effective strategies to combat this pervasive problem. Domestic violence remains a significant concern in the US. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking in their lifetime. Domestic violence has profound consequences for individuals and society as a whole. Victims may suffer physical injuries, emotional trauma, and long-term psychological effects. It also contributes to a cycle of violence, negatively impacting families, children, and communities. Encouragingly, more survivors are coming forward to report domestic violence and seek help. Various organizations, such as domestic violence shelters, hotlines, and support groups, provide assistance and resources to survivors, including safety planning, counseling, and legal support.

Domestic violence has deep roots in history, spanning across cultures and societies. Understanding the historical context of this issue provides insight into the social and cultural factors that have shaped attitudes and responses to domestic violence over time. Throughout history, domestic violence was often considered a private matter, and societal norms and legal systems often failed to address or condemn it. Women were seen as property or subordinate to their male counterparts, which perpetuated power imbalances and contributed to the normalization of violence within intimate relationships. The feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s brought domestic violence to the forefront of public discourse. Activists and organizations shed light on the prevalence and severity of domestic violence, challenging societal beliefs and advocating for change. This led to the establishment of shelters, hotlines, and support services for survivors. Legislation also played a crucial role in addressing domestic violence. In the US, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed in 1994, providing federal resources to combat domestic violence, improve victim services, and enhance legal protections. While progress has been made, domestic violence remains a persistent issue, and ongoing efforts are necessary to address its root causes, promote gender equality, and create a society where all individuals can live free from violence and abuse.

One prominent figure is Dr. Ellen Pence, co-founder of the Duluth Model, an influential approach to addressing domestic violence. Her work focused on changing societal perceptions of domestic violence and promoting accountability for perpetrators. Activist and author, Tarana Burke, is another notable figure. She created the "Me Too" movement, which initially aimed to raise awareness about sexual assault but has since expanded to address various forms of abuse, including domestic violence. Her advocacy has sparked a global conversation and empowered countless survivors to share their experiences. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Halle Berry have used their platforms to speak out against domestic violence and support organizations that provide assistance to survivors. Their visibility and support have helped generate widespread attention and funding for initiatives combating domestic violence.

Public opinion on the topic of domestic violence has evolved significantly over time. In the past, there was often a prevailing attitude of silence and victim-blaming, which hindered progress in addressing the issue. However, as awareness has grown and conversations around domestic violence have become more open, public opinion has shifted towards greater recognition of its seriousness and the need for action. Today, there is generally widespread condemnation of domestic violence, with the majority of people acknowledging it as a serious societal problem that requires attention and intervention. People understand that domestic violence is not confined to a specific demographic and can affect individuals from all walks of life. Public opinion also recognizes the importance of supporting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable. There is a growing understanding that domestic violence is not a private matter but a public health issue that requires a comprehensive response involving education, prevention, and access to support services.

1. Power and Control 2. Socioeconomic Factors 3. Cultural and Social Norms 4. Substance Abuse 5. Childhood Experiences 6. Lack of Education and Awareness:

1. Physical Injuries 2. Psychological and Emotional Trauma 3. Social and Interpersonal Impact 4. Impact on Children 5. Economic Consequences 6. Cycle of Violence

1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. 2. Domestic violence is often underreported, making it challenging to fully understand the scope of the problem. Studies indicate that a significant number of domestic violence incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, economic dependence, or lack of awareness about available resources. 3. Domestic violence can perpetuate across generations. Children who witness domestic violence in their homes are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves as adults. Breaking this inter-generational cycle requires effective intervention and support to prevent the normalization of violence within families.

The topic of domestic violence is of utmost importance when it comes to raising awareness, fostering understanding, and promoting change in society. Writing an essay about domestic violence provides an opportunity to shed light on this pervasive issue and its profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. Firstly, addressing domestic violence is essential for the well-being and safety of countless individuals who experience physical, emotional, or sexual abuse within their homes. By discussing the causes, consequences, and dynamics of domestic violence, an essay can help educate readers about the signs to look out for and the available resources for support and intervention. Secondly, exploring the topic allows for a deeper understanding of the societal factors that contribute to domestic violence, such as power imbalances, gender roles, and cultural norms. By examining these underlying issues, an essay can contribute to the dialogue on social change, policy reforms, and the importance of prevention and education. Furthermore, the topic of domestic violence intersects with various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, law, and public health, making it a rich subject for research and analysis. It encourages critical thinking, empathy, and the exploration of potential solutions to combat domestic violence on personal, interpersonal, and systemic levels.

1. Anderson, K. L. (2017). Gender, power, and violence: Responding to intimate partner violence in South African households. Gender & Society, 31(6), 743-768. 2. Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Basile, K. C., Walters, M. L., Chen, J., & Merrick, M. T. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization—National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(8), 1-18. 3. Coker, A. L., Smith, P. H., Thompson, M. P., McKeown, R. E., Bethea, L., & Davis, K. E. (2002). Social support protects against the negative effects of partner violence on mental health. Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine, 11(5), 465-476. 4. Ellsberg, M., Jansen, H. A., Heise, L., Watts, C. H., & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2008). Intimate partner violence and women's physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence: An observational study. The Lancet, 371(9619), 1165-1172. 5. Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women (NCJ 182369). Bureau of Justice Statistics. 6. García-Moreno, C., Jansen, H. A., Ellsberg, M., Heise, L., & Watts, C. H. (2006). Prevalence of intimate partner violence: Findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence. The Lancet, 368(9543), 1260-1269. 7. Hegarty, K., O'Doherty, L., & Taft, A. (2013). Challenging the biomedical model: Toward a more nuanced understanding of violence against women. Violence Against Women, 19(11), 1419-1437. 8. Jewkes, R. (2002). Intimate partner violence: Causes and prevention. The Lancet, 359(9315), 1423-1429. 9. Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence: Intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. Northeastern University Press. 10. World Health Organization. (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. World Health Organization.

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Essay on Violence

Students are often asked to write an essay on Violence in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Violence

Understanding violence.

Violence refers to acts that cause harm to others. It can be physical like hitting, or emotional like bullying. It’s a serious issue that can lead to pain, fear, and even death.

Types of Violence

There are various types of violence such as domestic, school, or gang violence. Each type is harmful and can negatively affect a person’s life.

Effects of Violence

Violence can cause physical injuries and mental trauma. It can also lead to societal problems like crime and unrest.

Preventing Violence

Education and understanding are key to preventing violence. It’s important to treat others with respect and kindness.

Violence is a harmful act that we should strive to prevent. By promoting peace and understanding, we can make a difference.

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250 Words Essay on Violence

Introduction.

Violence, an act of physical force resulting in harm or damage, is a pervasive and complex issue in society. It manifests in various forms, from interpersonal violence in families to mass violence in wars, affecting individuals and societies at large.

Forms of Violence

Violence takes multiple forms, including physical, mental, and emotional. Physical violence is the most visible, involving direct harm or threat. Mental and emotional violence, though less apparent, can be equally devastating, involving manipulation, coercion, and psychological abuse.

The Roots of Violence

The roots of violence often lie in power dynamics, socio-economic factors, and cultural norms. Factors such as poverty, social inequality, and cultural practices can perpetuate violent behaviors. Moreover, exposure to violence in early life often leads to a cycle of violence, as victims may become perpetrators.

Impact of Violence

Violence has far-reaching impacts, not only causing immediate harm but also long-term physical, mental, and social consequences. It hinders social development and economic growth, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

Addressing Violence

Addressing violence requires a comprehensive approach that involves legal, educational, and social measures. Legal measures include laws and regulations to prevent and punish violence. Educational measures involve teaching empathy and conflict resolution skills. Social measures, such as economic empowerment and social support, can help address underlying factors.

In conclusion, violence is a significant issue with deep roots and broad impacts. Addressing it requires concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and societies to create a world free from violence.

Packed in 152 Informative Pages

500 Words Essay on Violence

The concept of violence.

Violence, a pervasive element in society, is a complex, multifaceted issue that demands careful examination. It is characterized by behaviors involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. Violence has been a part of human history since time immemorial, with its roots deeply embedded in the human psyche, societal norms, and cultural practices.

The Manifestations of Violence

Violence manifests in numerous forms, from physical aggression and verbal abuse to systemic oppression and psychological harm. It can be categorized into interpersonal violence, collective violence, and self-directed violence. Interpersonal violence includes domestic abuse and child maltreatment, while collective violence involves social, political, or economic conflicts such as wars or terrorism. Self-directed violence, on the other hand, includes self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

The Psychological Underpinnings of Violence

Psychologically, violence can be viewed as an outcome of a complex interplay of individual, relational, and societal factors. At the individual level, factors such as personality disorders, low self-esteem, or a history of violence can predispose a person towards violent behavior. Relational factors include family dynamics, peer influence, and intimate relationships. Societal factors encompass broader issues like economic disparities, social inequality, and cultural norms that perpetuate violence.

The Impact of Violence

The impact of violence extends beyond the immediate harm to the victim. It has far-reaching consequences on the mental, physical, and social well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Victims of violence often experience psychological trauma, physical injuries, and in severe cases, death. The societal consequences include a cycle of violence passed down generations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced social cohesion.

Preventing violence requires a comprehensive, multi-level approach. At the individual level, interventions include mental health support and skill development programs. At the relational level, family and community-based interventions can help create a supportive environment. At the societal level, policy measures aimed at reducing social inequalities and promoting cultural change are crucial.

Concluding Thoughts

Violence is a complex issue that cannot be reduced to a single cause or solution. Its roots lie in the intricate web of individual, relational, and societal factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective interventions. As we move forward, it is essential to foster a culture of empathy, respect, and non-violence, promoting a more peaceful and inclusive society for all.

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Domestic violence crisis: Number of women allegedly killed in family violence incidents soars

A spike in the number of women dying as a result of domestic violence in Australia has sparked urgent calls for action, including establishing a national list of offenders.

WARNING: This story contains discussion of domestic and family violence.

Key points:

• 58 women have allegedly been killed this year across the country
• Experts say it's a national crisis
• They want a national register of of family violence offenders

Six women have been killed across Australia in 10 days — five allegedly by violence inflicted upon them by men.

One of the most prominent cases was the murder of 21-year-old sports coach Lilie James, whose body was found at her workplace, a high school in central Sydney.

Her colleague and former boyfriend Paul Thijssen's body was found on Friday.

A man has also been charged with murder after 34-year-old lawyer Alice Rose McShera was found dead in an upmarket Perth hotel room on Monday.  

Police have also charged a 44-year-old man with murder over the death of Bendigo mother Analyn "Logee" Osias on Sunday night.

It brings the total number of women's deaths by alleged violence over the past year to 58, according to Australian Femicide Watch.

The stark figures are a reminder of the need for a national family violence register to log violent offenders, according to family law specialist Nicola Jansen.

"The idea is that person would then be entered onto a register, that upon application is searchable by a defined set of the public," she told ABC Radio Perth.

Red flags missed

Records on the proposed register would be accessible by intimate partners, but also the family of the partner, which follows a model practised in South Australia.

"What we're learning is that a lot of the more insidious patterns of family violence and coercive control in particular, are not necessarily understood by the other partner," Ms Jansen said.

"A lot of the red flags and a lot of the signs that person's friends or family may see, they don't see themselves."

Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon said the recent spate of recorded deaths was only "the tip of the iceberg".

"The amount of harm and abuse that women and children are experiencing from domestic, family and sexual violence that sits underneath those numbers is significant," she said.

"It's a national crisis."

Stop with 'trauma bait'

Domestic violence awareness advocate Chanel Contos has criticised a lack of media coverage of the 58 women allegedly killed in circumstances of domestic violence.

"Where is the coverage for that? Matthew Perry, from Friends died last week, every single media outlet in Australia covered it," she told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

"What about the deaths of the [58 women], why is that not covered by the same amount of media outlets and given the same attention?"

Ms Contos criticised the emphasis placed on the suspected perpetrator in the case of Lilie James.

"In this context, there was things saying he was a school leader, he was a sports captain, celebrating his status as if it's a shock horror," she said.

"Just the way that teachers should have training ... to be transformative actors in this change, so should the media.

"We need to stop with the clickbaity headlines, that's trauma bait from someone's travesty."

National plan not working

Professor Fitz-Gibbon said the federal and state governments' National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, launched last year, was failing to make an impact.

"We need an elevation of the issue to match the scale of the problem," she said.

"Funding from state, territory and federal governments commensurate with the scale of domestic, family, and sexual violence."

Professor Fitz-Gibbon also pointed at the need for a shift in public attitude, pointing at a "disconnect" between sentiment and reality in the National Community Attitudes survey.

"The vast majority of Australians recognise that domestic violence is a national issue, but a significant portion of them don't think that it's happening in their own suburb or town," she said.

"This is happening in every corner of the Australian community."

While domestic violence records can be made available to police, the information can't generally be requested by the public, except in South Australia.

National consensus needed

Western Australia's Police Commissioner Col Blanch said while he supported the intent of the proposed access to an offenders register, the implementation may face hurdles.

"What are people's rights to privacy? All of those questions will clearly be asked," he told ABC Radio Perth.

"From a policing perspective, anything we can do that reduces the risk of harm in a domestic violence environment, I will always support. But, we have to step through it to make sure we protect everyone's rights."

WA Attorney-General John Quigley said he was open to the idea of implementing a national family violence register, but required the cooperation of other states.

"Of course we'll have a look at this — we had a look at it in the past," he said.

"There was difficulties with other states in the past and it was rejected in 2014 by the Law Reform Commission, but things have changed, and there's other state governments in play now."

Federal Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot said the government had made "short-term and long-term efforts" in the prevention of, early intervention and response to domestic violence.

"In the first year of the national plan … the Albanese Government has secured state and territory agreement as to how the national plan will be implemented," she said.

Ms Elliot said funding to key national programs had been bolstered, and several structural issues had been addressed, including making childcare cheaper, and making paid family domestic violence leave available.

"Ultimately the government cannot do this alone. We need everyone – men and women, businesses, schools, sports clubs, every part of our community – to work hand-in-hand with us to achieve our shared vision to end the violence," she said.

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• Domestic Violence
• Law, Crime and Justice
• Mental Health