According to CBS, on December 21, local time, on December 21, the Maxi family was shot while shopping home. After a few days of rescue, Kennedy Maxi was declared dead on December 27 local time at the age of 7.
Kennedy Maxi should not be targeted by gunmen, Atlanta City Police Department At that time, there was a dispute between several men on the roadside. Perhaps someone pulled the trigger, causing the little girl to be hit by stray bullets. At present, the police have not targeted the suspect.
Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said: “We are seeing an increase in gun violence crime in this city and the whole country, which is very worrying. It’s all the more sad that children are victims of gun violence.”
More childish faces
In addition to Kennedy Maxi, many children in the United States have also died of gun violence. In July, when Maria Jones, 13, of Chicago, was dancing to her mother at home, a streamer shot through the window and hit her neck, killing her, USA Today reported.
Her death left the family in pain, and sister Mercedes Jones said in an interview: “My sister’s life has just begun, but now I have to help her choose a coffin and prepare her photo… I really don’t want to face the reality of her death.”
Also in July, Natalia Wallace, 7, of Chicago, was shot dead while playing in the yard.” When children go out to play, they should not always worry that they will be shot dead. Natalia Wallace’s father said.
According to a U.S. WUSA 9 TV station, a two-year-old child in Montgomery County, Maryland, was killed by stray bullets on December 5 local time. On December 9th, in northwest Washington, 15-month-old Carmelo Duncan was killed by a stray bullet.
The harm of gun violence to children
According to the latest data on the U.S. “Gun Violence Archives” website on December 29, more than 43,000 people have died in the United States so far this year (about 24,000 of whom committed suicide) and more than 39,000 people have suffered gun injuries. Of these, 292 children died from shooting and 686 children were injured by gunshot wounds. 1,051 teenagers died in the shooting, and 3,027 teenagers were injured by gunshot wounds.
Gun violence not only kills innocent children, but also has other potential harm. Previous research by the American Child Welfare Alliance pointed out that
In an environment of severe gun violence, children and adolescents may see violence as a means to solve the problem. In addition, exposure to violence can also cause emotional overload for children and adolescents, causing them to suddenly face great pressure. In the long run, children will have difficulty in regulating their emotions and becoming more aggressive.
In July, Time published an article from Chetan Satya, a doctor at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of Northwell Health. The pediatrician said: “Doctors have had enough of taking bullets from their children and telling their parents the bad news. It’s frustrating that the COVID-19 pandemic has exhausted us and there is no sign of any relief from gun violence.”
Chetan Satya calls for the current severity of gun violence in the United States, and people need to hear from the voices of residents threatened by gun violence and to take gun violence seriously as a public health safety issue.
