The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Perspectives

Florida Pediatric Gun Safety: Policy Recommendations and Ways Forward

Authors: Myron L. Rolle, MD, MSc, S. Hassan A. Akbari, MD, MSc

Abstract

Children gaining access to unsafely secured firearms is a serious concern. Unintentional injury, including from firearms, is the leading cause of death in children. Firearms-related injuries are the second highest cause of child mortality in the United States, with more than 3100 cases reported in 2016.1 In 2021, two in five US children lived in homes with firearms.2 Moreover, Florida has the second highest number of registered weapons in the United States.2 A majority of unintentional firearms fatalities happen in the home, with a substantial number of those cases involving children playing with or showing someone a firearm when it discharges. From 2002 to 2022, Florida adolescent general handgun carrying increased by 65%.2

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References

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2. Wright-Kelly E, Johnson RL, Barnard L, et al. Trends in carrying handguns among Florida adolescents: 2002-2022. Pediatrics 2025;156:e2024066967.
 
3. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. How does gun violence impact the communities you care about? https://everystat.org/. Accessed July 1, 2025.
 
4. Hastings KG, Carter PM, Zimmerman M, et al. Parental firearm storage and their teens’ perceived firearm access in US households. JAMA Netw Open 2025;8:e2514443.
 
5. Faust JS, Chen J, Bhat S, et al. Firearm laws and pediatric mortality in the US. JAMA Pediatr 2025;179:896–902.