Giving Compass' Take:
- According to a new study, there was a 30 percent increase in gun violence in the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic due to stress, domestic violence, lack of social interaction, and greater access to firearms.
- What impact will increased gun violence have on the already strained healthcare system?
- Read more on the rise of domestic violence during COVID-19.
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Gun violence increased by more than 30% in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.
The researchers say that stress, domestic violence, lack of social interaction, and greater access to firearms might have contributed to the increase.
According to the researchers, these findings come at a time when many hospitals remain inundated with COVID-19 cases and face challenges related to limited resources, such as blood products, intensive care beds, personal protective equipment, and staffing. They say gun violence increases the burden on health care systems that are already in high demand. The researchers also warn that if gun-related incidents continue to rise, hospitals may experience additional strain.
The researchers obtained data on shooting deaths, suicides, and gun-related injuries from the Gun Violence Archive. They analyzed daily incidents in each state, as well as the District of Columbia, from February 2019 through March 2021. They compared incidents reported before the pandemic (February 2019 through February 2020) to gun violence reported during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020 through March 2021).
According to the findings published in Scientific Reports, 28 states experienced a significantly higher number of shootings during the first year of the pandemic. In some states such as Minnesota, Michigan, and New York, the rate of gun violence rose by more than 100%. Meanwhile, Alaska was the only state to see significantly lower rates of gun violence during the pandemic.
According to the researchers, added stress and worry, along with fear and uncertainty, may have fueled an increase in gun sales. Based on data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, there was a 41% increase in handguns sold in March 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. According to the researchers, all of these factors may have led to the increase in gun-related injuries and deaths during the pandemic.
Read the full article about gun violence during COVID-19 by Barbara Schindo at Futurity.