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Time Business News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Business News
California Tops the Nation for Strongest Gun Laws, But Gun Deaths Are Still Rising, New Report Finds
A new study released by High Rise Financial reveals that California leads the United States in the strength of its gun laws, according to data from the Giffords Law Center. But while the Golden State ranks #1 in firearm legislation, it's not immune to the rising trend of gun-related deaths across the country. The analysis compared state rankings from 2014 to 2023 and paired them with gun death rates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It found that even in states with some of the strictest gun laws, gun death rates have continued to rise, highlighting a complex national crisis where legislation alone may not be enough. State 2023 Rank 2014 Rank Gun Death Rate (2023) 10-Year Change California 1 1 8.25 per 100K +8.49% New Jersey 2 3 4.66 per 100K –10.30% Connecticut 3 2 6.20 per 100K +19.32% Illinois 4 8 13.48 per 100K +46.52% New York 5 5 4.80 per 100K +9.15% California held steady in first place over the decade, demonstrating the state's longstanding commitment to gun safety through universal background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapons ban. Despite this, it saw an 8.49% increase in gun deaths per 100,000 residents over the last 10 years. New Jersey, however, stands out as the only top-ranked state to reduce its gun death rate, down 10.30% since 2014. This achievement, combined with its climb from third to second place in the Giffords ranking, makes New Jersey a standout example of how legislation, enforcement, and local action can work together to reduce firearm-related fatalities. In contrast, Illinois saw a dramatic 46.52% increase in gun deaths, even as it rose from 8th to 4th place in legislative strength. Experts note that urban violence, access to firearms from neighboring states, and systemic inequality may all contribute to the rise, indicating that strong laws can be undermined by factors outside a state's borders. State 2023 Rank 2014 Rank Gun Death Rate (2023) 10-Year Change Wyoming 50 44 22.36 per 100K +40.63% Missouri 48 44 21.46 per 100K +37.59% Arkansas 48 32 22.10 per 100K +32.32% Kentucky 47 47 18.66 per 100K +29.58% Idaho 46 39 18.36 per 100K +41.23% At the other end of the spectrum, Wyoming ranks 50th in the nation, making it the state with the most permissive gun laws. The state's firearm death rate has soared over 40% in a decade, now exceeding 22 deaths per 100,000 people, nearly three times higher than California's. Arkansas experienced the sharpest decline in legislative strength, dropping from 32nd to 48th place over the last ten years. Meanwhile, gun death rates in Missouri, Kentucky, Idaho, and Montana continue to climb, reflecting the potential consequences of relaxed firearm regulation. 'There's no single solution to gun violence,' said a spokesperson for High Rise Financial . 'But our data suggests that states with stricter laws tend to have lower gun death rates overall. The challenge is that even the strongest laws can't operate in a vacuum. Social, economic, and regional dynamics all play a role.' For example, New York's rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000 residents remains among the lowest in the nation — yet the state still experienced a 9.15% increase in the past ten years. Meanwhile, highly ranked Connecticut saw a surprising 19.32% increase, despite consistently strong legislative frameworks. Gun law strength rankings were sourced from the Giffords Law Center's annual scorecards, which assign each U.S. state a ranking based on the scope and strictness of its firearm legislation. Data was collected for the years 2014 and 2023 to evaluate changes over time. Gun death rates were pulled from the CDC Wonder Tool, comparing rates per 100,000 residents in 2014 and 2023 to calculate percentage changes. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
CNN
09-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
States that weakened gun laws saw rise in pediatric mortality, study finds
Firearms have risen to become the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States in recent years, but a new study joins a growing set of evidence that gun laws can make a difference. A landmark Supreme Court case in 2010 – McDonald v. Chicago – ruled that the Second Amendment applies to local governments, leading to a flurry of new laws and a deeper divide in state policy around firearms, with some states tightening restrictions and others weakening gun-related laws. Over the next 13 years, thousands more children died from firearm violence than earlier trends would have predicted – and all of the increase happened in groups of states that had more permissive gun laws, according to a study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers grouped states into three categories based on firearm ownership and use policies – most permissive, permissive and strict – using a composite of policy scorecards from nonprofit advocacy groups: Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety and the Giffords Law Center. They found significant increases in the number of children who died from guns in states with looser laws: more than 6,000 additional deaths in states with the most permissive laws between 2011 and 2023, and more than 1,400 additional deaths in states considered to have permissive laws. Half of the states considered to have strict firearm laws – California, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island – saw a decrease in pediatric firearm mortality in that time. Overall, there was an increase in child deaths from firearm-related homicides and an even greater increase in child deaths from firearm-related suicides, the study found. But pediatric mortality from others causes – including other suicides – did not increase in this time. Experts emphasize that many gun-related injuries and deaths are preventable, especially among children. 'In some ways, suicide can be more preventable than homicide, and a lot of that has to do with what children and youth have access to when they are having suicidal ideation,' said Dr. Lois Lee, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. 'Means matter,' said Lee, who has researched the topic but was not involved in the new study. If more states had adopted stricter gun laws, many more children would be alive today, said Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, who was the lead author of the new study. 'It's not a pipe dream. The best-case scenario isn't some fictitious place. The best-case scenario is just a bunch of states that we currently live in, or don't,' he said. The new research didn't identify the specific types of gun policy that were the most harmful or most protective, but earlier research has suggested that background checks, secure storage laws and policies that otherwise prevent child access to guns are associated with lower pediatric firearm mortality. Dr. Christopher Rees, a pediatric emergency physician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, was not involved in the new study but has researched the effects that policy can have on pediatric firearm mortality and cared for patients who have been directly affected. 'It's not a political issue at the bedside,' he said. 'We should approach this as a way of protecting children and keeping children out of the emergency department.' In his own experience, he has noticed a difference between practicing in Massachusetts, a state which the new study considers to have strict firearm policy, and Georgia, which is considered to be among the most permissive. 'When I was a fellow in Boston at Boston Children's Hospital, I saw zero firearm-related injuries or fatalities,' Rees said. 'Since I have moved to Atlanta, I can't count how many children I have taken care of who have been involved in firearm-related injuries.' Firearms surpassed car accidents to become the leading cause of death among children and teens in the US in 2020, and Rees said that the philosophy behind seatbelts can serve as a guide of sorts for gun policy. 'We wear our seat belts all the time because you don't know when you're going to get in a car accident,' he said, and it can be difficult to predict with firearms, too. 'So, in my mind, the way to avoid unpredictable events is to have smart, preventive pieces in place before those unpredictable moments may come up.' In 2023, about 3,500 children and teens died in gun-related incidents, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – accounting for nearly 1 in 5 deaths among those ages 1 to 18. Research dollars to understand how to best prevent gun injuries and protect children has been lagging for years, and experts warn that recent cuts to federal health programs under the current Trump administration raise risks. The new study came from unfunded research, Faust said, and relied on data from the CDC's Injury and Violence Prevention Center – which was recently gutted by staff cuts. 'We do it because we care about it. But that's not sustainable,' Faust said. 'Our system really does function well based on a synergy between public resources and extramural research, and I'm really worried that the cuts to the CDC will make it harder for us to track this and every other epidemic.' Last month, hundreds of leading national, state, and local medical, public health, and research organizations sent a letter urging federal lawmakers to fund federal firearm violence prevention research. 'Across this country, communities are suffering from preventable firearm-related injuries and deaths,' they wrote. 'The freedom of individuals to own firearms can and should be balanced with protecting children and their families from serious harm, and ensuring the health, security, and well-being of all people.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Strong gun laws in California yield lowest gun deaths rates, Newsom says
( — Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement stating that California leads the nation in strong gun safety laws, correlating with many lives that were saved. Newsom stated that year after year, California has been ranked as the number one state in the country for its strong gun safety laws, along with some of the lowest rates of gun deaths, according to information from Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety. In other states, where officials have passed gun safety laws, fewer people have died from gun violence, Newsom said. Texas and Florida, which have been ranked 32nd and 21st, respectively, in gun law strength, had firearm mortality rates more than 50% higher than California. Newsom said that according to the California Department of Justice Office of Gun Violence Prevention, if the gun death rate in the rest of the U.S. matched the state's over the past decade, there would have been almost 140,000 lives saved, and potentially hundreds of thousands of people would sustain gunshot injuries. California gun control bill that could ban popular Glock pistol sales moves forward 'Strong gun laws save lives,' said Newsom. 'California has reduced its gun violence rate because of its leading gun safety laws.' California was the first state in the nation to have a 'Red Flag Law' in 2016, according to Newsom. The law builds on a bedrock of available protection orders – nine in total – that would prohibit firearm possession for people subject to orders ranging from domestic violence and workplace harassment. In the first three years of the law, the protection order was used to prevent 58 cases of threatened mass shooting, according to Newsom. Newsom said, 'There have been significant increases in utilization of GVROs – increasing by 118% – from 2020 to 2023.' Newsom stated that he signed a bipartisan legislative package to further reinforce California's nation-leading gun laws and prevent incidents of mass violence. 'California won't wait until the next school shooting or mass shooting to act. In the absence of congressional action, our state is once again leading the way by strengthening our nation-leading gun laws. Data shows that California's gun safety laws are effective in preventing gun-related deaths, which makes the ongoing inaction and obstruction by politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby even more reprehensible.' Gov. Gavin Newsom Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
18 to be the new minimum handgun age in Iowa
May 14—Beginning July 1, Iowa joins 23 states allowing the purchase and carrying of handguns by individuals 18 and older, rather than the federal age of 21. On April 18, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF 924 into law, changing the state's minimum age. While both federal and Iowa law already allowed for the purchase of long guns like shotguns and rifles for 18 year olds, many states don't allow this for pistols and revolvers. Ten states and the District of Columbia have minimum age gun laws stricter than the federal standard. Proponents of lowering the handgun purchase age say it prevents discrimination. "This aligns with recent federal court rulings affirming that young adults, aged 18 to 20 may not, as a class, be denied full access to their Second Amendment rights," reads a statement by the Iowa Firearms Coalition. "By proactively addressing this issue, Iowa lawmakers have helped ensure our state remains a leader in protecting these fundamental rights." A lobbyist with the Iowa Firearms Coalition, Richard Rogers, said this change is long overdue. "Iowa's young adults are being discriminated against unfairly as to their Second Amendment rights," he said. "They are legally and morally responsible for the care and safety of that family, and yet, we deny them the access to the most practical, portable tool for self-defense." The law also allows those 18 years or older who are a parent, guardian or spouse of someone who is younger than 18 to directly supervise the younger individual in possessing a pistol, revolver or ammunition. The adult must "maintain a physical presence near the supervised person conducive to hands-on instruction, who maintains visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person and who is not intoxicated." Since 2021, Iowans are allowed to both purchase and carry handguns without a permit to acquire or a permit to carry, subject to certain limitations. The Iowa Department of Public Safety still recommends obtaining a permit as there are benefits, including allowing Iowans to carry in states with permit reciprocity while traveling. Critics of the bill cite the dangers of gun violence in young adults. "Laws imposing minimum age requirements for the possession and purchase of firearms are intended to decrease access to firearms by young people and, correspondingly, to decrease the number of suicides, homicides and unintentional shootings among that population," reads a statement by Giffords Law Center. "Given that young people are at elevated risk of engaging in violent behaviors against themselves or others, these laws have the potential to protect a particularly vulnerable group." An FBI Supplementary Homicide Report shows 18-20 year olds comprise just 4% of the U.S. population but account for 17% of known gun homicide offenders. Giffords also cites a 2024 study that found state laws raising the minimum legal age to purchase firearms to 21 were associated with a 12% decline in rates of firearm suicides among 18 to 20 year olds. Other Firearms Bills May 6, Reynolds signed Senate File 106 into law, allowing the carry of a loaded firearm while operating a snowmobile or ATV. While the bill still prohibits discharging a weapon while operating the vehicle, it does allow for carrying if all other conduct is lawful. Non-ambulatory Iowans are allowed to shoot while on the vehicle as long as it is not moving. "The NRA thanks Governor Reynolds, pro-gun lawmakers and all NRA members and Second Amendment advocates for their engagement on this critical legislation," the National Rifle Association said in a statement. House File 791, an act regarding firearm safety instruction in school districts, passed the House committee on public safety last month in anticipation of a start date next year. "By July 1, 2026, develop and distribute to all school districts an age-appropriate model program for firearm safety instruction for students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade," the text states. The program for Iowans sixth grade and younger is to be based on the Eddie Eagle gun safety program developed by the NRA. For those in seventh through 12th grade, the program would be based on the NRA's hunter education course. The bill will require public school districts to offer or make available an approved firearm safety instruction course to all students in seventh through 12th grade. They must also make the program available for students attending private schools in their district. The cost is to be paid by the school district using money from state school foundation aid received into the school's general fund. "No additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this act," the bill states.
Axios
12-03-2025
- Axios
Study: 1 in 15 US adults has experienced a mass shooting firsthand
About 1 in 15 U.S. adults has been on scene at a mass shooting, a new University of Colorado Boulder study published in JAMA Network Open reveals. Why it matters: The study underscores the pervasiveness of gun violence in the U.S. and the increasing likelihood that everyday Americans could be caught in the crossfire. The big picture:"Our findings lend credence to the idea of a 'mass shooting generation,'" senior author David Pyrooz said in a statement. "People who grew up in the aftermath of Columbine have these unique experiences that are really distinguishable from the older population," he said. By the numbers: About 7% of 10,000 U.S. adults surveyed in January 2024 said they had been present at a mass shooting — defined as an incident where four or more people were shot. 2% reported being injured, whether by gunfire, by shrapnel or in the chaos of people fleeing. Among those uninjured, about 75% said they suffered psychological distress. More than half of those who had witnessed a mass shooting said it happened within the last decade. Between the lines: Gen Z and men were at the highest risk, the study found. And for most survivors, the violence hit close to home. More than three-fourths of mass shootings took place in their own communities. Zoom in: Colorado has experienced at least 61 mass shootings in the last 10 years, killing 82 people and injuring 246, according to data on the state health department's website. In 2023 alone, there were 16 mass shootings in the state — the highest in at least a decade, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Data for 2024 is not readily available. What they're saying: "It's not a question of if one will occur in your community anymore, but when," Pyrooz said. "We need to have stronger systems in place to care for people in the aftermath of this tragic violence." The other side: Despite the grim reality, mass shootings actually declined nationwide last year — dropping nearly 25% from 2023. The U.S. reported 503 mass shootings in 2024, down from 659 the year before, per the Gun Violence Archive. The decrease could be attributable to the waning social and economic upheavals set off by the coronavirus pandemic, Giffords Law Center's research director Kelly Drane told Axios last year. What we're watching: Colorado lawmakers are considering a controversial gun control bill that would restrict the sale of most semiautomatic firearms, like the one used by the Boulder King Soopers shooter in 2021. The legislation — sponsored by Sen. Tom Sullivan, a Centennial Democrat whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting — has been amended more than a dozen times, Colorado Politics reports.
