Many teens are carrying guns today, although the numbers have decreased in recent years. Male teens, in particular, are likely to possess and carry guns. In a 1999 National survey, almost 1 in 10 male high school students reported having carried a gun in the last 30 days, a decrease from more than 1 in 7 in 1993. 5 Gun Suicide Guns are the number one way that teens take their own lives. When teens shoot themselves, they most often do so in their own homes.
Teens are at a far greater risk for suicide when there are loaded and accessible guns at home.
8 Gun Homicide and Assault Guns are also the number one way that teens kill others. Male teens have always tended to resort to violence to settle arguments, but the increase in gun carrying has meant that arguments once settled by fistfights are now settled with guns. While this is about a third of the number arrested in 1993, when teen gun homicides peaked, it is still far too high. And, for every person killed with a gun, another 3 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for gun injuries from assault. Teens sometimes carry guns because they are afraid or because they want to intimidate others, but carrying a gun will not make you safer.