Raising Up An Alliance of Discerning Luminaries

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  Mississippi had the highest gun death rate in the country overall in 2023. The overall gun death rate increased by 61% from 2014 to 2023. Firearms were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in 2023. In 2022, there were at least 45 domestic violence-related homicides in Mississippi. 

Youth gun violence is a leading cause of death for children and teens in Mississippi, driven by both homicides and suicides, with a particularly high risk for young Black males. The state has lenient gun laws, a high overall gun death rate, and lacks certain protections like red flag laws, contributing to the crisis. Addressing this issue requires addressing factors like firearm access through safe storage, community-based public health solutions, and policy reforms such as requiring background checks for all gun sales.  

 Key Statistics and Trends in Mississippi

• Leading Cause of Death: Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Mississippi. 
• Causes of Death: Homicides make up a large portion of youth gun deaths, with suicides also being a growing concern. 
• Disproportionate Impact: Young Black males aged 15-34 are disproportionately affected, facing persistent risk due to underinvestment in their communities. 
• High Gun Death Rate: Mississippi has one of the highest overall gun death rates in the nation. 
• Policy Context: The state has some of the country's weakest gun laws, including permitless carry, which lacks background checks and law enforcement oversight for concealed firearms. 

 Contributing Factors and Risk Factors

• Firearm Access: Access to firearms significantly increases the risk of both violent and non-violent delinquency among youth. 
• Lack of Safe Storage: Improper storage of firearms in homes, especially unloaded and locked away, contributes to tragic accidental shootings and suicides. 
• Underlying Social Issues: Factors like drugs, domestic arguments, and a lack of community resources contribute to the context of youth gun violence. 
• Lack of Policy: Mississippi does not have an Extreme Risk Protection Order law ("red flag law"), which could help temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis. 

 Potential Solutions

• Safe Firearm Storage: Securely storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition is a critical step to prevent injuries and deaths. 
• Public Health Approach: Applying public health solutions tailored to the communities most affected is essential to preventing youth gun violence. 
• Gun Law Reform: Implementing stronger firearm safety regulations, such as background checks for all gun sales and red flag laws, can reduce community violence and save lives. 
• Community-Based Prevention: Developing community-tailored programs that address the root causes of violence, promote safe gun handling, and support at-risk youth can help interrupt the cycle of violence. 

  Louisiana had the 2nd highest gun death rate and gun homicide rate in the country overall in 2023. Young people ages 15-34 accounted for nearly half (49%) of all gun deaths in 2023. Firearms were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in 2023.  

 Louisiana leads the nation in youth firearm deaths and sees disproportionate impacts on Black youth, with factors like childhood trauma, poor conflict resolution skills, impulsive decision-making, and easy access to guns contributing to the crisis. A lack of protective state laws, such as the failed safe storage bill, combined with a 2024 permitless carry law, worsens these outcomes. Prevention efforts include community-based strategies, education on conflict resolution, and public awareness campaigns about gun violence dangers.   

  Key Issues in Louisiana

• High Rate of Youth Firearm Deaths: Louisiana has the highest rate of firearm deaths among young people in the U.S., with the problem intensifying since the pandemic began. 
• Racial Disparities:Black youth are disproportionately affected, experiencing firearm homicide rates significantly higher than their white peers. 
• Factors Contributing to Violence:
  • Childhood Trauma: Exposure to domestic violence and child violence is linked to a higher risk of gun violence involvement.
  • Underdeveloped Conflict Resolution: Many shootings stem from poor conflict resolution and impulsive actions by teenagers, exacerbated by an immature brain and the presence of firearms.
  • Easy Access to Guns: Recent laws, such as the 2024 permitless carry law, make it easier for individuals to carry firearms, and previous legislative attempts to mandate safe firearm storage failed. 
• Impact on Communities: Gun violence creates lasting, devastating effects on communities, which struggle to recover from the loss of life. 

Prevention and Response Strategies

• Community-Based Programs: Initiatives in places like Baton Rouge and Shreveport aim to build community partnerships and implement strategies to reduce juvenile gun violence. 
• Education: Programs focus on teaching at-risk youth how to resolve conflicts and resist peer pressure to carry or possess firearms. 
• Public Awareness: Broadcast and print media are used to inform the public, families, and residents about the dangers and consequences of gun violence. 
• Intervention and Suppression: Efforts target youth with prior gun-related offenses to reduce their risk factors, alongside efforts to eliminate sources of illegal guns from communities.