Gun related violence in the United States has been characterized as an epidemic and a public health crisis with a substantial financial burden estimated to be $174 billion in 2010 (Miller 2012; for cost estimates see also Follman et al. 2015). Specifically, in 2015, there were a total of 36,252 gun related fatalities (35.8% fatalities were non–law enforcement related and 60.74% were suicides). Regarding children and youth, 142 children ages 5 to 12 died from gun related injuries (73.94% were non-law enforcement related) and 1851 adolescents ages 13–18 died from gun related injuries (55.00% were non-law enforcement related and 40.25% were suicides; Katsiyannis et al. 2018; see also Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2017).

In 2014, data from the National Crime Victimization Survey showed that students ages 12 to 18 experienced 841,100 nonfatal victimizations at school and 545,100 nonfatal victimizations away from school (Musu-Gillette et al. 2017; see also Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2016). Between 1992 and 2014, total victimization rates for students ages 12 to 18 at school declined 82%, from 181 victimizations per 1000 students in 1992 to 33 victimizations per 1000 students in 2014 (Zhang et al. 2016). Overall, during 2013–14 school year, 65% of public schools documented one or more incidents of violence resulting in about 757,000 crimes. Specifically, 58% of schools recorded one or more incidents of a physical attack or fight without a weapon, 47% of schools recorded one or more incidents of threat of physical attack without a weapon, and 13% of public schools recorded one or more serious violent incidents (Musu-Gillette et al. 2017, p. v). Further, in 2015, 7.8% students in grades 9–12 reported being in a physical fight, 6.0% reported being threatened or injured with a weapon; 20.2% reported being bullied; and 15.5% reported being bullied electronically during the previous 12 months. In addition, 5.6% of students reported missing school one or more days because they felt unsafe and 4.1% reported carrying a weapon during the previous 30 days (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 2016). Though violent deaths at school are rare, 53 school-associated violent deaths occurred from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 (Musu-Gillette et al. 2017). Figure 1 illustrates school-associated homicides and suicides of youth ages 5–18 at school since 1992.

Fig. 1 Homicides and suicides of youth ages 5–18 at school (https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d15/tables/dt15_228.10.asp) Full size image

Despite calls to the contrary, Lemieux (2014) concluded that gun access was the best predictor of gun deaths. Indeed, Lemieux (2014), in examining mass shootings, found no support indicating that armed guards or citizens reduced deaths or injuries, though firepower capacity was a key factor associated with the number of deaths; in fact, only 17% of shooters were killed by police, but after they inflicted substantial casualties. Further, Wintemute (2008) reported that risk of death by gun increased 40 to 170% and Dahlberg et al. (2004) reported a 90% increase when living in a home with guns. Related to home safety, keeping guns locked, unloaded, and storing ammunition separately reduced youth suicide and unintentional injury (Grossman et al. 2005).

Efforts to curb gun violence, such as the federal ban on assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines (expired in 2004), were effective in reducing availability and use. For example, Fallis et al. (2011) reported that in Virginia during the ban (1994–2004) there was a decline in weapons with large capacity magazines reaching a low of 10% in 2004. Following the expiration of the ban the number increased by 24%, and by 2010, 22% of weapons received had large capacity magazines. Similarly, since the enactment of the Brady law (1994) and 2012, background checks blocked 2.4 million individuals from purchasing guns (e.g., domestic abusers, felons, mentally ill); in 2012, 82,000 felons were blocked from buying guns because of background checks.

Unfortunately, there is a paucity of research related to gun violence and gun policy, which limits the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of gun violence prevention efforts. Therefore, there is a need to establish a robust and comprehensive research agenda regarding gun law and policy as well as a need for substantial federal funding (National Research Council 2005; Weiner et al. 2007). Such effort, however, will necessitate the repeal of a 1994 law limiting federal government research on the health implications of firearms by restricting the funding for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC. The law dictates that that “none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote firearm control” (Kellermann and Rivara 2013; see also, Alcorn 2017).