Understanding the Real Drivers Behind Child Gun Fatalities

At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we take firearm safety, responsible training, and personal freedom very seriously. A recent study circulated in mainstream media claims that “states with looser gun laws saw a rise in gun-related deaths in kids.” While this narrative might feed into the agenda of anti-gun lobbyists, it’s critical to look beneath the surface to understand what’s really affecting child firearm death rates.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

The article cites a study that suggests a correlation between states with fewer gun control laws and increased gun-related fatalities among children. But correlation does not equal causation. The truth is far more nuanced than some statistical summaries allow. For any valid analysis, it’s essential to consider a wide array of variables, such as:

• Urban crime rates and gang violence
• Socioeconomic conditions within each state
• Parental supervision and home safety practices
• Education and youth outreach programs – or lack thereof

The oversimplified notion that more gun laws equal fewer child deaths ignores these significant contributors. In fact, in areas dominated by crime — often urban population centers — we find that gun violence is not the fault of the law-abiding gun owner, but the result of failed policies, poor enforcement, and a breakdown in community structures.

The Role of Responsible Firearm Training

In South Carolina, where we proudly operate Fortress Firearms Training, our priority is equipping citizens with the knowledge they need to be safe and effective firearm owners. Proper firearms training is central to reducing any form of firearms-related harm, including those involving minors.

Instead of passing sweeping or unconstitutional restrictions that affect law-abiding Americans, we should be focusing our resources on:

• Promoting safe storage and training in the home
• Encouraging firearm education programs in schools and community centers
• Ensuring responsible adult supervision when firearms are present

At Fortress, our mission is simple: empower families and citizens through firearms education and practical safety training. Ignoring the critical role of education in favor of burdensome gun control legislative patches is a failure of both responsibility and common sense.

The Political Slant Behind the Study

Let’s be honest: the push for more gun control isn’t really about the safety of children. It’s about control — control over your rights, your freedom, and your way of life. The study referenced in current news attempts to paint a distorted picture that more gun laws will translate into fewer child deaths. Yet, some of the strictest gun laws in the country haven’t made cities like Chicago, Detroit, or Baltimore any safer for children.

So why continue down a path of policies that clearly aren’t working? It’s because there’s a deeper agenda aimed at undermining the Constitution, specifically our Second Amendment rights. And while they use emotional claims about protecting children, they turn a blind eye to:

• Declining discipline in public schools and homes
• Increasing youth involvement in violent crime
• The social decay promoted by a culture that devalues life and responsibility

It is not a lack of laws that threatens our children — it’s a lack of moral leadership and enforcement.

Defensive Gun Ownership is a Crucial Safeguard

When parents and responsible citizens are trained, confident, and armed, their homes are safer. By contrast, gun control legislation that restricts responsible ownership actually makes families more vulnerable. Criminals don’t follow laws — gun-free zones and magazine limits won’t stop someone determined to commit harm. But a trained citizen with a firearm can save lives.

That’s why we believe in:

• Constitutional carry rights as a safeguard of personal liberty
• Comprehensive firearms training as a community service
• Rejecting the false narratives pushed by agenda-driven studies and politicians

Why Fortress Firearms Training Advocates Education Over Legislation

At Fortress Firearms Training, we don’t just train people how to shoot. We educate, we empower, and we equip individuals and families with the skills and ethics needed to be safe, lawful firearm owners. Our services promote responsibility, prevent accidents, and strengthen communities — exactly the factors omitted in politically-charged “studies” that overlook root causes.

More laws won’t raise responsible children. Strong homes, clear boundaries, and proper training will. When children are educated about respect, consequences, and safety — when they grow up in homes where firearms are handled responsibly and not mystified — the risk of tragedy declines substantially.

Stand for the Second Amendment, Stand with Fortress

The Constitution was never meant to be convenient. Our freedoms weren’t given to us by government, and they shouldn’t be taken away by misguided legislators in response to cherry-picked data. Fortress Firearms Training remains committed to urging our community and policymakers to focus on what works: education, accountability, and rights-respecting approaches to safety.

We will continue to stand firm in the belief that good people, armed and trained, are the best defense against both crime and the erosion of liberty. If you’re ready to learn more about keeping your family safe while standing for your rights, get in touch with us at Fortress Firearms Training.

The answer isn’t to fear guns — it’s to respect them, understand them, and take responsibility for them.