Giving Compass' Take:
- Jared Wadley reports on research indicating that witnessing gun violence or using guns as a kid increases the risk of violent behavior later in life.
- What can funders and policymakers do to reduce childhood exposure to gun violence?
- Learn about the high costs of kids’ gun injuries and what can be done.
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Whether it’s seeing violent behavior with a family or among others in the neighborhood, or in movies, television, or violent video games, the gun use and acceptance among young adults can be traced back to their childhood.
More mass shootings have occurred in the United States, creating increased discussion about gun control. However, far more people are shot and killed daily in single-person, small group, or gang shootings, especially in major cities, says L. Rowell Huesmann, professor emeritus of communication studies and psychology and a research professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Huesmann is also lead author of the study in Aggressive Behavior.
Huesmann and colleagues wanted to learn what influences individuals to behave violently with weapons during adolescence and adulthood.
Read the full article about witnessing gun violence as a kid by Jared Wadley at Futurity.