Firearm injuries among children and adolescents: I. The facts.

Although injuries, both intentional and unintentional, are the major cause of death of children under age 19, the rate of death from motor vehicle injuries has fallen during recent years, while the rate of injury death from violence is increasing. This increase in death rate is a reflection of greater availability of handguns in our society and greater numbers of handgun-related deaths. This article examines the facts related to firearm death and injury among America's youth. Physicians need to be armed with the facts to lead the forces to remove handguns from the environment of children.