The Devastating Impact of Guns on Children and Schools in the US

Guns have become the leading cause of death for children in the US, with the rate of child firearm death increasing by 42% in the last two decades. Pediatric trauma surgeon Dr. Chethan Sathya has treated children for gunshot wounds and believes that a public health approach is needed to address the crisis. He suggests promoting firearm safety, violence intervention programs, addressing root causes such as structural racism, and implementing policies such as red flag laws and background checks. Sathya emphasizes that guns cause catastrophic injury to children's vital organs, and that safe storage legislation and smart gun technology can help reduce the risk of suicide, unintentional injury, and mass shootings.