Study Examines Link Between Gun Control and Youth Firearm Deaths

A report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) indicates that states with stricter gun control measures may see higher rates of firearm deaths among adolescents compared to those with more lenient laws.

This observation comes from a survey carried out in June 2025, which was featured in the Journal of Pediatrics. The study titled “US Firearms Act and Child Mortality Rates” categorizes states into three groups: “strict,” “tolerant,” and “most tolerant.” The authors argue that lax gun laws have led to a significant number of firearm-related deaths among children in states with more permissive policies. They suggest that future research should identify which types of laws either increase risk or offer greater protection.

Major publications like the New York Times, ABC News, and CNN have echoed the authors’ claims. In response, the NSSF criticized the study’s methodology, suggesting that the authors relied on estimated and adjusted figures rather than actual data on incidents. The NSSF examined raw data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and found contrasting results.

According to the NSSF:

The dataset can tell a different story when reconstructed using the same parameters used by the authors, based on CDC data. They classified states like California, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey as having the strictest gun control laws.

The NSSF remarked, “The firearms industry remains unfazed by biased research influencing political narratives. For years, we’ve implemented effective safety initiatives aimed at keeping firearms away from those who shouldn’t have them.”