Memphis, it’s time to say enough is enough to all the gun violence
Memphis leads the nation in unintentional shootings involving children. That fact alone should give all of us pause.
As the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center in the region, we see a lot of these children at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and the numbers are increasing each year both in Shelby County and across the state of Tennessee.
As the medical director of trauma at Le Bonheur and associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I see firsthand how devastating these incidents are to our children and their families. Some of these victims lose their life while others live with the lifelong effects of their injuries both mentally and physically.
We want our children to grow up, live healthy lives and go on to be wonderful adults. Far too often I see a young girl with braids in her hair, headband on and earrings in, who has her whole life in front of her, brought in with a gunshot wound. These injuries are often preventable with safe firearm storage and reduction of community violence. It is our responsibility as adults in the community to decrease firearm injuries in children.
These kids are our future
They are outside doing normal things: playing basketball with their friends, riding their bikes or doing homework at the kitchen table. They are simply being innocent children and they are getting shot. We read these stories over and over again, and we see these kids at Le Bonheur each week.
On Sept. 28, Memphis broke its homicide record set just four years ago. It took just 272 days in 2020 to set the new record. Number 229, he was a child that deserved to grow up.
As of Sept. 30, Le Bonheur had seen 93 pediatric patients come through the doors due to a gunshot wound. Some of those kids never made it home. For the ones who survived, it does not necessarily mean that they return to life as it was before being shot. From paralysis to internal injuries to the mental toll taken from being shot, the recovery does not end when they leave the hospital.
In 2017 Le Bonheur saw 100 gunshot wound patients. That number went down in 2018 with 67 patients before increasing to 89 in 2019 and we have already exceeded that number in 2020.
We have seen double digit gunshot wound patients at Le Bonheur every month since the pandemic began including 15 in September.
While you personally may not have been affected by this violence, it could be you, your child or your grandchild. Firearm injuries affect all children from all communities both urban and rural. These are toddlers, young children and adolescents.
Protecting our children starts with learning
We owe it to ourselves and our children to leave this world a better place than we found it.
On Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m., there will be a Unity Walk Against Gun Violence. Le Bonheur, UTHSC and other organizations are partnering to pledge to do our part to stop gun violence in our community. I am asking all us of to do the same.
Learn how to safely store your firearms, teach your neighbors, relatives and friends, volunteer to keep children off the streets. Stand up for children in our community.
We will assemble at 9:30 a.m. to begin walking at 10 a.m. for a 2-mile walk beginning and ending at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center parking lot, 637 Poplar Ave. Due to COVID protocols masks and social distancing will be required.
Please, let's come together and finally say enough is enough. We need to start today.
Dr. Regan Williams is medical director of trauma services at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and associate professor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center.