Kids In Disadvantaged ZIP Codes Face Up To 20 Times Higher Odds of Gun Injuries

Children residing in “very low-opportunity” neighborhoods are up to 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for gun injuries than those living in the most advantaged areas, reports a new multi-state study published in Pediatrics.

The study also found that most hospitalizations for gun injuries among children under 18 are the result of unintentional shootings — incidents caused by mishandling or accidental discharge of a gun.

This is the first study to examine, across multiple states, how children’s neighborhood conditions are linked to firearm injuries, which is currently the leading cause of death among U.S. children.

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