(Ohio Capital Journal Photo) A private business warns against firearms on their property.

By Susan Tebben

Special to The Times

A new report from Children’s Defense Fund Ohio shows firearms as a leading cause of death for children, a statistic that has been exacerbated by a lack of funding and support for gun violence prevention, the group says.

The child advocacy group compiled its most recent study on gun violence using national and state data on firearm-related youth deaths and interviews.

The organization wants the report to serve as a tool for communities, and to provide recommendations to Ohio’s legislature on how to address gun violence.

Brianna Booker, policy associate for the group, and author of the report, said Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and the Appalachian region of the state were represented through the participation of groups like faith communities, local government members, “school safety teams,” and even parents of children killed by firearms.

The report found that child firearm deaths are higher in Ohio than the national rate, and remain “a leading cause of death for children and teens in Ohio.”

“Among these instances, Black youth and young people living in high-poverty urban areas face disproportionate harm, while rural communities experience unique risks tied to firearm normalization and inconsistent safety training,” the report stated.

Nationally, the number of young people who have died from firearm-related injuries has gone up by 68%, according to health policy organization KFF.

The rising number of firearm deaths also suggests that “many more youth have experienced nonfatal firearm injuries or some other exposure to gun violence which may impact their mental health,” KFF stated in a recent data analysis of their own.

Firearm deaths among children 17 and younger rose above motor vehicle deaths in that age group starting in 2020.

Ohio has seen a 58% rise in the firearm death rate, which was 2.6 per 100,000 children between 2015 and 2019, then rose to 4.1 per 100,000 children between 2020 and 2024, according to KFF data.

The Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio found that the “profound human toll” of youth firearm deaths is combined with billions of dollars in economic costs to the state.

“These tragedies are closely linked to preventable risk factors, including unsafe firearm storage, gaps in access to prevention resources, and the absence of comprehensive, evidence-based gun safety policies,” Booker wrote in the report.

“In the absence of strong statewide protection, communities, schools, and families have taken on much of the responsibility for preventing violence.”

Among the recommendations the organization made was the creation of a state-level office of “violence prevention” to support education and firearm safety.

At the federal level, the Trump administration eliminated the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and cancelled millions in funding for community gun violence programs through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.

“Tangible solutions to gun violence in Ohio cannot wait,” the Ohio organization stated.

“Children and families across the state are calling upon the General Assembly to take immediate action that is tailored to local context, grounded in community input, and free from stigma and assumptions.”

The report also recommended the passing of a child access prevention (or CAP) law, that would require firearms to be securely stored, and the expansion of background checks for private firearm transfers.

“Mandating background checks for private sales would close a critical gap in Ohio law and help prevent firearms from reaching individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others,” Booker wrote.

In terms of active legislation, the group noted support for Ohio House Bill 358, requiring multilingual firearm safety materials in schools and public spaces.

Ohio’s Republican supermajority has repeatedly rolled back gun violence prevention measures and regulations on guns in recent years.

In 2022, the Republican legislature passed and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law removing any training, background checks, or permit requirements for concealed weapons in the state.

In 2021, Republican lawmakers passed, and DeWine signed, a “stand your ground” law in Ohio. The Republican-controlled General Assembly has driven legal challenges and laws meant to block gun prevention measures passed by Ohio cities on the local level.

Firearm related bills that are sitting in the Ohio legislature include Democratic-led bills to prohibit certain firearm transfers without a background check, to create a tax credit for handgun training and firearms storage, and prohibit firearm possession in the cases of some domestic violence offenses.

Republican-led bills include measures to create exemptions for concealed carry holders, and one that would allow firearms and ammunition to be exempt from state sales and use taxes.

Original story can be found at https://ohiocapitaljournal.com