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FLORIDA - A new study reveals a sharp increase in the number of Florida teens who say they carry handguns, with middle schoolers and girls leading the trend.
According to research published in the journal Pediatrics, 6% of middle and high school students in Florida reported carrying a handgun in 2022, up from just 3.7% in 2002. T
he data, gathered from over 700,000 students through the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, marks a 65% rise over two decades.
Lead researcher Erin Wright-Kelly of the Colorado School of Public Health said the findings defied expectations.
Females were over three times more likely to report carrying a gun compared to 20 years ago, and middle school students showed a steeper increase than high schoolers.
While general handgun carriage among teens is up, there was a notable decline in students bringing guns to school.
That number dropped from 1.1% in 2002 to just 0.4% in 2022.
Students also reported less favorable attitudes about bringing guns to school and perceived handgun access as more difficult than in the past.
In Hillsborough County, Freddy Barton of Safe & Sound Hillsborough said the study reflects what he sees on the ground.
Teens allegedly carry guns out of fear and a desire for protection.
His organization hosts intervention programs pairing at-risk youth with survivors and former offenders to spark real conversations about gun violence.
Barton says the solution must begin early.
“We’re having conversations with elementary school students,” he said.
“If you see a gun, run and go tell someone.”