Mississippi leads nation in child gun deaths, new report shows – WAPT

Report on Gun Violence in Mississippi and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the severe public health crisis of gun violence in Mississippi, as detailed in a recent study by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. The findings indicate that the state’s high rates of firearm-related deaths, particularly among children and marginalized communities, present a significant impediment to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Impact on Child Mortality and Public Health (SDG 3)

The escalating rate of gun violence directly undermines SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States, a trend acutely reflected in Mississippi.

Key Health-Related Findings:

• In the most recent year of available data, 63 children and teens were killed by gun violence in Mississippi.
• Nationally, 2,571 children and teens died from gun violence during the same period.
• The state’s overall gun death rate in 2022 was 28.6 per 100,000 residents, the highest in the nation and more than double the national average.
• Gun suicides are a growing concern, with rates among Black youth (ages 10-19) increasing by 245% nationally since 2014, a trend impacting the Deep South.

Exacerbation of Systemic Inequalities (SDG 10)

The data reveals profound racial disparities, highlighting a failure to progress toward SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequality within and among countries. The burden of gun violence is not evenly distributed, disproportionately affecting minority populations and underserved communities.

Evidence of Disproportionate Impact:

• Young Black males between the ages of 15 and 34 account for 42% of all gun homicide victims in Mississippi.
• This demographic represents only 5% of the state’s total population.
• The report attributes this persistent risk to decades of underinvestment in community safety and a lack of meaningful policy reform, which are core challenges to achieving equality.

Challenges to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

SDG 16 focuses on promoting peaceful societies and building effective, accountable institutions. Mississippi’s sustained increase in gun violence and insufficient policy response conflict directly with Target 16.1: to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates.

Institutional and Policy Deficiencies:

1. Mississippi’s overall gun violence rate has increased by 66% since 2013, indicating a failure to curb violence effectively.
2. The state has few firearm safety requirements in place.
3. Mississippi lacks an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law, also known as a “red flag law,” which is a policy tool designed to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.

The report concludes that these deaths are preventable and necessitate public health solutions tailored to the most affected communities, aligning with the foundational principles of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on gun violence as a public health crisis. The text explicitly discusses death rates, the causes of death for children, and the growing concern of suicide, all of which are key components of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article directly addresses this goal by highlighting the “stark racial disparities” in gun violence victims. It points out that young Black males are disproportionately affected, linking this to systemic issues like “decades of underinvestment in community safety,” which points to a clear inequality of outcome based on race and location (rural and underserved communities).

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant because the article discusses the high rates of violence and related deaths. It also touches upon the role of institutions and policy, noting Mississippi’s “lack of meaningful gun policy reform” and the absence of an “Extreme Risk Protection Order law,” which relates to the strength and effectiveness of institutions in ensuring public safety and justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article’s entire focus is on the high rate of gun violence and the resulting deaths in Mississippi, such as the overall rate being “the highest in the nation, at 28.6 deaths per 100,000 residents.”
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. This is directly identified through the statement that “firearms remain the leading cause of death for children and teens in America” and the specific data that “gun violence killed… 63 in Mississippi alone.”

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The gun deaths described are a form of premature mortality. The target’s focus on mental health is also relevant, as the article states that “suicide by firearm is a growing concern.”

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article shows a failure to achieve this by detailing how “young Black males aged 15 to 34 made up 42 percent of all gun homicide victims, despite accounting for just 5 percent of the population,” indicating a severe lack of safety and inclusion for this specific demographic.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 16.1 (Reduce violence and death rates):

   • Indicator: The overall gun death rate per 100,000 residents. The article provides this figure for Mississippi (“28.6 deaths per 100,000 residents”) and notes its increase over time (“increasing 66 percent since 2013”). This serves as a direct measure of violence-related death rates.

2. For Target 16.2 (End violence against children):

   • Indicator: The absolute number and cause of death for children and teens. The article specifies that “gun violence killed 2,571 children and teens nationwide, including 63 in Mississippi,” and that firearms are the “leading cause of death” for this group. Tracking this number would measure progress.

3. For Target 3.4 (Reduce premature mortality and promote mental health):

   • Indicator: The suicide mortality rate, specifically by firearm. The article points to this by stating “suicide by firearm is a growing concern” and noting that “gun suicides among Black youth aged 10 to 19 have increased 245 percent since 2014.”

4. For Target 10.2 (Promote inclusion and reduce inequality):

   • Indicator: The proportion of homicide victims from a specific demographic group compared to their proportion in the overall population. The article provides a stark example: “In Mississippi, young Black males aged 15 to 34 made up 42 percent of all gun homicide victims, despite accounting for just 5 percent of the population.” This disparity is a direct indicator of inequality in safety and outcomes.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wapt.com