In Florida, a child is hospitalized with a gunshot wound nearly every day, according to an exclusive analysis of hospital data by KFF Health News and The Trace. From 2018 to 2024, more than 4,000 children aged 17 and under were treated for firearm injuries in the state’s hospitals. This staggering figure underscores a public health emergency that disproportionately affects Black and Latino communities, particularly in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Data: A Grim Snapshot
The analysis, based on billing records from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, found that between 2018 and 2024, an average of 1.5 children per day were hospitalized for gunshot wounds. The data, which includes details on age, race, and ZIP code of residence, reveals a stark geographic concentration of the crisis. A handful of ZIP codes, many in Jacksonville and Orlando, account for a significant share of these injuries.
Jacksonville: A City in Crisis
Jacksonville, a city of about 1 million, has three ZIP codes that rank among the ten worst in the state for pediatric firearm injuries. The city’s north and west sides, areas marked by historical segregation and disinvestment, are particularly affected. The victims include a 7-year-old boy shot while playing outside, a 13-year-old killed on his way home from football tryouts, and a 5-year-old girl struck by a stray bullet while sitting in a parked car.
The human toll is immeasurable. Ladonna Johnson lost her 2-year-old son, A’mahri Robinson, who was shot in the head while in her arms. The gun was kept for protection but was accessed by her boyfriend during an argument. A’mahri’s death is one of many that have led to the creation of the “Wall of Compassion” by the nonprofit Families of Slain Children, a memorial listing hundreds of names of gun violence victims in the city.
Root Causes: Segregation, Poverty, and Policy
Researchers and community advocates point to a confluence of factors driving this crisis. Florida’s history of racial discrimination in housing and banking has left lasting scars, creating neighborhoods with high poverty rates, environmental hazards, and limited opportunities. These are the same neighborhoods where child gunshot injuries are most common.
“The bottom line is nobody gives a flying f— about these young men,” said Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, a UF Health pediatrician and former Duval County health director. He criticizes state and local leaders for failing to address the “root causes” of firearm injuries, including poverty and lack of opportunity.
Permissive Gun Laws and Lack of Political Will
Florida’s permissive gun policies, including “stand your ground” and permitless concealed carry, are linked to higher rates of pediatric firearm deaths, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics. The state is among 30 with the most permissive gun laws, and unlike states with stricter regulations, it has not seen a decline in such deaths.
Despite the crisis, there is a notable absence of political action. The Florida Department of Health’s State Health Improvement Plan does not mention gun violence, and Governor Ron DeSantis has dismissed federal calls to treat it as a public health crisis. Local leaders, including Jacksonville’s mayor and city council, have largely remained silent, with only one council member, Jimmy Peluso, acknowledging the city’s neglect of affected neighborhoods.
Voices of Grief and Resilience
The emotional toll on families is profound. Mothers like Yvonne Fields, who lost her son Rashaud Fields on the night of his high school graduation, describe a void that cannot be filled. “I know he’s not coming back, but I can feel the spirit,” she said. Latasha Hobbs, whose son Maurice was killed two days after his 18th birthday, echoes this sentiment: “It’s not fair. My baby deserves to be here.”
Pamela Howard has spent nearly two decades seeking justice for her son Derrell Baker, shot at 17 while walking to school. The lack of closure compounds the pain. “When I get justice,” she said, “maybe I’ll be a little at peace.”
What Can Be Done?
Experts argue that preventing gun violence requires a public health approach, similar to the successful efforts to reduce motor vehicle deaths. This includes federal safety standards for firearms, which are currently exempt from Consumer Product Safety Commission oversight, and investments in community-based interventions.
In Jacksonville, programs like the Jacksonville Journey showed promise, reducing homicides by nearly 40% in its first four years, but funding was later slashed. Current initiatives, such as Journey Forward, lack dedicated, ongoing funding. “We don’t really have the funds to address the root causes,” said Vicki Waytowich of the Partnership for Child Health. “What we’re doing is slapping a Band-Aid on things.”
As the crisis continues, families and advocates call for a shift in priorities. “There isn’t an agenda to end gun violence in the state of Florida,” said Jean Francis of Moms Demand Action. The data makes clear that without concerted action, more children will be lost to a preventable epidemic.
