Florida — Despite mounting concerns over gun violence involving minors, a newly published study has revealed a troubling trend: the number of Florida adolescents carrying handguns has increased by 65% over the past 20 years, even as attitudes toward guns in schools grow less favorable.
The findings, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, show that handgun carrying among Florida teens rose from 3.7% in 2002 to 6.0% in 2022.
The rise was most notable among females, middle school-aged youth, and white students.
Key Trends and Findings
Researchers analyzed responses from over 700,000 students through the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, which polls middle and high schoolers across the state.
Although more teens report carrying guns in general, gun carrying in schools has dropped by 60%, from 1.1% to 0.4%. Additionally, attitudes supporting carrying firearms in school declined by 39%.
“This trend suggests that while general access and carrying are on the rise, efforts to tighten school safety protocols may be having a positive effect inside campuses,” the authors stated.
Girls and Younger Teens Driving the Trend
One of the most surprising aspects of the study was the spike in handgun carrying among female and younger adolescents — a demographic not traditionally associated with firearm possession.
Researchers emphasized that prevention strategies must now adapt, targeting not only high-risk groups like rural or male youth but also these emerging subgroups.
Read Also: Florida Senators Address DeSantis’ Budget Vetoes, Northeast Florida Priorities
National Context: Gun Deaths Among Youth Soaring
The study arrives amid growing alarm nationwide. Firearms are now the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens, with fatal injuries among those aged 15 to 19 surging since 2020.
Separate research published last month in JAMA Pediatrics showed a direct correlation between lax state gun laws and increased child gun deaths. In contrast, states with stricter regulations experienced stable or declining fatality rates.
What Do You Think?
Are Florida’s gun policies and school safety measures enough to address this growing crisis. Share your thoughts in the comments section below on ridgecrestpact.org.
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