Gun violence among children in the United States has significantly increased in the space of two years. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reports that gun violence is currently the number one cause of death among children from the age of 19 and below. As if the stat isn't appalling enough, it's also reported that they have been 23 school shootings in the U.S. in 2023. This mass shooting includes the popular shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 school children and two teachers.
Uvalde and Nashville school shootings like every other mass shooting has sparked outrage from parents, families, communities, politicians, and the nation at large. But only a few people are talking about the pervasive, traumatic and life-uttering psychological implications of these shootings on children, parents and families that have been directly or indirectly impacted.
Experiencing gun violence directly or indirectly never leaves anyone the same, especially children. There's a psychological black hole it leaves on children and parents that may never heal with time. A research study was conducted to understand the impact of gun violence on children. The study collected data from a group of 630 children, from a combination of urban and rural environments. This group included children who had been indirectly exposed to gun violence, and another group that had not been exposed.
Among the group who had experienced gun violence, over half took some immediate protective action to avoid the danger, including hiding or running away from the threat. Following the incident, over half the children showed fearful, avoidance, anger and anxiety symptoms that significantly interfered with their daily activities.
We'll run through the impact of gun violence on children and parents
Children
A recent report by CNN showed that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. In this thorough research, the researchers found that the rate of firearm accounts for almost 19 percent of deaths among children between 1-18 years.
1. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Many children who have experienced gun violence have lingering PTSD. They are stressed out because they know that the world is no longer a safe place for them. Their anxiety increases, and so does their distrust. Going back to school even after changing environment brings back tragic memories.
The impact of gun violence on the psychological well-being of children leaves a sad trail in their young memories. The worse part is that most of these children exposed to firearm violence resort to substance abuse to escape from these memories, and a few them commit suicide when they can't cope any longer.
2. Withdrawal and conscious avoidance
It's natural for children to withdraw from people and activities after such an awful experience. Their withdrawal pattern shapes how they relate and socialize with people, which is a necessity for living and coping. Withdrawal and loss of interest also affects their concentration in school, which reflects poorly on their grades. Reports have it that children who experienced gun violence are prone to repeat grades, and in worst case scenarios, drop out of school.
The children who lost friends, classmates, playmates or neighbors will lose interest in building connections with people due to the fear of losing them. The weight of the shooting isn't something these kids can shake off easily.
3. Children grow up to become unemployable
Statistics shows that children who suffered gun violence are less likely to be employed. This is because of PTSD, anxiety, substance abuse, dropping out of school, and depression. And when they manage to get a job, they will struggle to hold that job while battling with recurring memories of those firearm incidents.
4. Desensitization to gun violence
Children being exposed to gun violence causes desensitization of the dangers of gun violence. Instead, children who experience gun violence are prone to perpetuate gun related crimes, especially when they are constantly exposed to gun related violence. This incident is either due to their environment or media content they consume regularly.
Parents
Parents are equally impacted by gun violence. They suffer from the fear of losing their children, mourn losing their children, and often live with the guilt. In this piece, parents whose kids are schooling in the U.S. were asked a few questions on how gun violence among children affects them.
Their responses follow.
Taayoo Murray
A mother of 2 Black boys, living in NYC. The 19 year old attended school and lived in NYC until 17 years of age. The 14 year old is still living with me and is a high school freshman (9th grade).
Image Credit: Taayoo Murray
1. As a parent living in America, do you feel confident having your kids to school?
No I don’t. I am not a paranoid person. New York City has fairly strong gun control laws, and I have honestly never felt unsafe in the city with regard to crime. However, in recent years, particularly after the shooting in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, I don’t feel confident that my kids are safe from gun violence while in school. I really do look at my son every morning and wonder if he’ll come back home safely.
2. Do you have anxiety anytime you hear/read about cases of gun violence in schools in the U.S.?
I’m anxious about school shootings every day. Having one in the news just brings that anxiety to the forefront, but I’m anxious all the time.
3. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your mental health as a parent?
My mental health took a hit in recent years with the increased police shooting of unarmed Black men in the US. I have two Black boys. I have had to take deliberate steps to deal with my increased anxiety and feelings of depression. I’m sure the increased school shootings have affected me. It’s a sad state of affairs that I have learned to function in this state. I consciously think about a school shooting happening at my son’s school every day and this isn’t healthy.
4. Due to recent cases of gun violence, would you opt for homeschooling if you had the means?
While I worry about school shootings, I wouldn’t opt for homeschooling. Firstly I believe that there’s more to school than academics. Being out in the world and associating with others, especially as a teen is so important for his development as a whole person. Additionally, in the U.S. people are being gunned down in supermarkets, pharmacies, churches, etc. Where exactly is my child safe?
5. Have you had the discussion with your kid(s)? If yes, how did they react to it?
Persons outside of the US probably wonder how ridiculous our society is. I don’t need to have conversations with my son about gun violence and school shootings. My 14 year old son has been doing school shooter drills since kindergarten. He knows exactly what to do if there’s a shooting at his school. He has a hiding place picked out at school. It’s downright ridiculous that our kids are more prepared for a school shooting than a fire.
6. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your kid's view on their safety in the U.S.?
Unfortunately my son has adjusted. I don’t know if he has been “traumatized” by the process because he doesn’t know any differently. This has always been his life. Fortunately he has never been exposed to gun violence of any kind, but there is a latent awareness that it can happen at any time.
My older son has also never been exposed but he lives with awareness. My 19 year old currently lives in Poland and often says he feels safer there than in NYC. It says a lot that I worry more about the child who lives in the same city as I do than the one thousands of miles away.
7. What measures are your kid's school taking to keep children safe?
My 14 year old’s school does random searches but that’s woefully inadequate. There are no metal detectors at the school’s entrance, so it’s very possible to get a gun in. A student took a loaded gun onto the campus during the last school year. He wasn’t intent on causing harm to his classmates, it was defense against an external problem, but he got the gun in. I want to emphasize that not having metal detectors at the school doors is not my problem. Children should not have to go through metal detectors to attend school. I’m just pointing out that a basic barrier doesn’t exist.
8. What's your take on gun policies in the U.S.?
Gun policies in the US are a joke. They don’t even make sense. There’s fierce resistance to simple things like a background check and assault weapons bans. The constant belief that people have the absolute right to protect themselves, even at the risk of endangering others, seems ridiculous in the face of the thousands who are losing their lives. Who exactly are we protecting? It’s almost like a free for all, with no holds and now our kids are paying the
Price.
Jenny Chan
Jenny is the Co-founder member of Pacific Atrocities Education. Since its establishment in 2014, Pacific Atrocities Education has been dedicated to raising public awareness about the profound history and devastating consequences of the Pacific Front during World War II, encompassing the loss of approximately 30 million lives.
1. As a parent living in America, do you feel confident having your kids to school?
The recent cases of gun violence in schools have left me feeling anxious and uncertain about sending my children to school. While I do feel confident that their schools are doing everything they can to keep them safe, the reality is that no amount of security measures can completely eliminate the risk of such tragedies occurring.
2. Do you have anxiety anytime you hear/read about cases of gun violence in schools in the U.S.?
The thought of my child being caught up in a mass shooting or other act of violence is a constant source of worry and stress for me as a parent. Unfortunately, these fears have only been exacerbated by the increasing frequency with which such incidents seem to be occurring across the country.
3. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your mental health as a parent?
The impact on my mental health has been significant, as I struggle to balance my desire to protect my children with their need for education and socialization with their peers.
4. Due to recent cases of gun violence, would you opt for homeschooling if you had the means?
While homeschooling would certainly provide one solution, it's not something that is feasible for our family at this time. Instead, we continue to have conversations about safety protocols and what steps they should take in case of an emergency situation.
5. Have you had the discussion with your kid(s)? If yes, how did they react to it?
Of course, these discussions also involve talking about how they perceive their own safety within the context of the American society today - something that can be difficult for young minds to comprehend fully.
6. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your kid’s view on their safety in the U.S.?
It's heart-wrenching knowing that they must consider things like evacuation routes or hiding places during active shooter drills instead of just focusing on learning math or reading skills.
7. What measures are your kid’s school taking to keep children safe?
I'm grateful that our school district takes safety seriously and has implemented various measures designed to keep children safe from harm while at school.
Anna Ferrari
Anna is an Italian living in Italy. She believes that the problem of danger and assaults in schools or on the roads is present nowadays also in Italy. Moreover, she has carefully followed what happened in the U.S. in the last few years and she’d love to chime in her opinion as a parent.
Image Credit: Anna Ferrari
1. As a parent living in America, do you feel confident having your kids to school?
Not properly. When you know that there is the possibility that something awful could happen, you cannot be confident. It is no more a remote thought; it is a possibility.
2. Do you have anxiety anytime you hear/read about cases of gun violence in schools in the U.S.?
Yes, I do, always. The news get me worked up even though I don’t live in the U.S. I believe that children all over the world should be safe and protect, and my heart breaks for these parents and guardians.
3. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your mental health as a parent?
Well, I did not go nuts, but something changed. I wasn’t sure anymore what my parenting role should be. Then I realized that I had to teach my children a new skill to cope with the external world.
4. Due to recent cases of gun violence, would you opt for homeschooling if you had the means?
NO, never. Home-schooling is not the solution. The solution must come from higher perspectives.
5. Have you had the discussion with your kid(s)? If yes, how did they react to it?
Surely, I have. They ask, they want to know, they do not understand why. I tried not to conceal anything, without scaring them. I got information about how to defend, and I am searching how to teach them.
6. How has the recent cases of gun violence affected your kid's view on their safety in the U.S.?
They feel afraid.
7. What's your take on gun policies in the U.S.?
Gun policies in the USA are too permissive — there is too little control. Moreover, people have some distorted mentality about making justice on their own. We are no longer in the Far West.
Conclusion
Recent data concerning children and firearms in the U.S. underscores the need for a prompt reassessment of gun regulations in the country. Regulating firearm ownership and usage is crucial to ensuring the safety of children. The impact on the physical and mental health of children and teenagers is concerning and extends well beyond their formative years.
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