A national analysis of 2,196 pediatric firearm homicides from 2020 to 2021 found that nearly one quarter occurred in the home, with almost two thirds of deaths among children aged 12 years and younger taking place there. In-home incidents were frequently linked to murder-suicide, child abuse, and intimate partner violence, with parents identified as the most common assailants. Handguns accounted for nearly 90% of known weapons, and multiple fatalities were more common in in-home cases. Temporal data from 2005 to 2021 showed rising rates of pediatric firearm homicides, though the proportion occurring at home remained stable. Researchers concluded that preventive approaches beyond safe storage, including risk protection orders and firearm relinquishment in domestic violence cases, may help address these deaths.

Source: JAMA Surgery & Commentary