Overview

• Researchers grouped states by law strictness and found more than 6,000 excess child firearm deaths in the most permissive states between 2011 and 2023.
• New Hampshire’s pediatric firearm mortality rate climbed from 0.5 to 0.9 deaths per 100,000 after liberalizing measures like ‘Stand Your Ground’ and permitless carry.
• California, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island—classified as having strict laws—recorded statistically significant declines in child firearm deaths, with Rhode Island seeing the largest reduction.
• The rise in pediatric firearm mortality was driven by both homicides and an even greater increase in suicides as guns became the leading cause of death among youth.
• Experts point to universal background checks, secure storage and child access prevention laws as evidence-based policies linked to lower rates of child firearm fatalities.