Local opinion: Gun violence and children: A crisis we can no longer ignore

Every day, 12 children in America lose their lives to gun violence, and 32 more are shot and injured. The aftermath goes far beyond the victims, leaving families and communities battling with trauma, grief, and a profound loss of safety. Firearms are now the leading cause of death among youth ages 0-24 — a devastating reality no parent should ever have to face. Still, this crisis continues to devastate our children and destroy families across the country. What kind of world do we live in where our children aren’t safe at school, the park, or even in their homes?

As Masters students at University of Arizona’s College of Public Health, we know it is time to come together and implement solutions to ensure every child can grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

Despite being the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. since 2020, firearm fatalities receive less than 3.3% of federal research funding compared to other leading causes of death with a similar mortality burden (Cunningham et al., 2019). Researchers estimate “federal funding for firearms research amounts to $57 in research monies per gun death. By contrast, lung disease, cancer, and heart disease receive $6,556, $2,996, and $1,740 per death, respectively (David Stark and Nigam Shah, JAMA (2017).”

Addressing this disparity, the Biden administration authorized the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services to appropriate state Medicaid funds to incentivize health care providers to counsel families on violence interventions–including gun safety measures. The hope is that this policy will spawn further federal gun violence initiatives, will establish a robust sample to study the effects of violence prevention initiatives delivered by health professionals, and will ultimately start a conversation about gun safety practices within U.S. households (leading to a reduction in the rate of firearm injury and fatality among our nation’s children).

If Arizona decides to participate, this initiative could enable healthcare and mental health providers to engage in discussions about gun safety. The intent is not to eliminate guns but to promote safe storage practices that protect the children we care for and help prevent legal consequences for negligence.

As residents of Arizona, we have a responsibility to urge our state leaders to enforce strict accountability laws and to support the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) in accessing these Medicaid funds. Initiating gun safety conversations with healthcare providers in a safe environment is an important first step. We also need to empower our medical and mental health facilities with solutions and resources for safe storage, which includes providing gun locks, locked storage devices, and educational materials on gun responsibility and safety. Arizona residents, urge state leaders to support using Medicaid funds for firearm safety counseling.

The urgency of addressing gun violence as a public health crisis cannot be overstated. This new initiative is just the beginning in a series of considerable efforts to address this crisis. Solutions must be rooted in evidence-based interventions that prioritize prevention and address the root causes. For instance, implementing universal background checks and safe storage laws has proven effective in reducing firearm injuries and fatalities. Community-based programs like hospital-based violence intervention and youth mentorship initiatives offer vital support to at-risk populations, demonstrating significant reductions in gun-related incidents. At the Zuckerman College of Public Health, we are committed to promoting policies and interventions that not only address the immediate dangers but also foster environments where children can thrive without fear. Comprehensive gun safety legislation and community empowerment strategies must work hand in hand to disrupt the cycle of violence plaguing our communities.