Firearm deaths are increasing in New Mexico, nearly doubling in the course of a decade. That鈥檚 according to a from the New Mexico Department of Health, which released a report on gun violence that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called for in her executive order regarding gun violence in September.
The report said residents ages 18-49 visit the hospital for firearm injuries at a disproportionately higher rate, and that children, especially teens, are doing the same more frequently.
It also cited increases in firearm-related injuries and deaths among Non-Hispanic American Indian, Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations, and says men are at the highest risk.
Patients going from the emergency department to the operating room with firearm injuries rose 16% between 2019 and 2022.
The report also said a lack of safe storage in the state is a major risk factor for gun violence, as 15% of homes with children have a loaded and unlocked firearm.
Suicide continues to be the main cause of firearm-related deaths, but homicide increased more quickly 鈥� by 70% 鈥� between 2018 and 2021.
Medicaid was the primary payer for three quarters of gun injury hospital discharges last year.
This coverage is made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and 九色网 listeners.
