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Incidents of toddlers shooting others or themselves increasing, data shows Incidents of toddlers shooting others or themselves increasing, data shows
(about 1 hour later)
In the past two weeks, at least seven toddlers in the US have shot themselves or someone else. It’s a trend that is accelerating.In the past two weeks, at least seven toddlers in the US have shot themselves or someone else. It’s a trend that is accelerating.
The latest shooting happened Friday, at Weaver distribution center in Augusta, Georgia. A three-year-old girl waited in a car in the parking lot with her mother and older brother while a family friend went inside to buy car parts. He left his loaded gun in the car.The latest shooting happened Friday, at Weaver distribution center in Augusta, Georgia. A three-year-old girl waited in a car in the parking lot with her mother and older brother while a family friend went inside to buy car parts. He left his loaded gun in the car.
Related: The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do | Lindy WestRelated: The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do | Lindy West
The girl picked up the gun and pulled the trigger, sending the bullet through her bottom and into the black Honda’s windshield.The girl picked up the gun and pulled the trigger, sending the bullet through her bottom and into the black Honda’s windshield.
Joe Leonguerrero works at Weaver. “While working, I heard a firearm discharge,” he told local television station WRDW. “I was previously in the military, so I’m familiar with the sound. And me and a coworker went to see what was going on, and we saw a female get out of a vehicle and a child who was crying.” Joe Leonguerrero works at Weaver. “While working, I heard a firearm discharge,” he told local television station WRDW. “I was previously in the military, so I’m familiar with the sound. And me and a co-worker went to see what was going on, and we saw a female get out of a vehicle and a child who was crying.”
She was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.She was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
The consequences have been more dire for the half-dozen other toddlers – children aged three and under – who found guns and shot someone in the past two weeks:The consequences have been more dire for the half-dozen other toddlers – children aged three and under – who found guns and shot someone in the past two weeks:
The pace of such shootings is increasing. Last year, the Washington Post analyzed shootings by small children and found that by this time of year there had been 18. So far this year there have been 23. The pace of such shootings is increasing. Last year, the Washington Post analyzed shootings by small children and found that by this time of year there had been 18. So far this year, there have been 23.
The statistics are worse for children who are not the shooters, but who are the victims of shootings accidental or otherwise. Among children in general, aged 11 or under, the figures are startling: at least 170 have been killed or injured this year in the United States. The statistics are worse for children who are not the shooters, but who are the victims of shootings accidental or otherwise. Among children in general, aged 11 or under, the figures are startling: at least 170 have been killed or injured this year in the US.
Beyond the raw statistics it’s difficult to sort out why the numbers are climbing, because the data is not being authoritatively compiled. The US Centers for Disease Control once recorded information about the circumstances around such shootings, but has since stopped under funding pressure from Congress. Beyond the raw statistics, it’s difficult to sort out why the numbers are climbing, because the data is not being authoritatively compiled. The US Centers for Disease Control once recorded information about the circumstances around such shootings, but has since stopped under funding pressure from Congress.
Last month more than 100 medical groups sent a letter asking Congress to resume funding the CDC’s research on gun violence. The letter said research could lead to saved lives, as it has with sudden infant death syndrome, and rear-facing infant car seats. Last month, more than 100 medical groups sent a letter asking Congress to resume funding the CDC’s research on gun violence. The letter said research could lead to saved lives, as it has with sudden infant death syndrome and rear-facing infant car seats.
Lack of funding, the scientists wrote, has “caused a dramatic chilling effect on federal research that has stalled and stymied progress on gathering critical data to inform prevention of gun violence”.Lack of funding, the scientists wrote, has “caused a dramatic chilling effect on federal research that has stalled and stymied progress on gathering critical data to inform prevention of gun violence”.