When the issue of gun control comes up, Republicans, who say 'guns do not kill people; people kill people' and Democrats, who are pushing for stricter gun laws, are both up in arms (no pun intended). It almost seems like there is no middle ground. Everyone on the political spectrum seems to have supporting research and reasons driving their policy.

However, some facts are empirical and, thus, undeniable. Gun deaths are rising across the United States, which seems more prevalent in Missouri. At 21.5 gun deaths per 100,000, Missouri takes the unsavory crown as one of the states with the most per capita deaths from gun violence. Not the kind of statistic any state would want to boast about.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' research work spanned four decades and unveiled some troubling trends. In 2006 the per capita deaths among kids was 0.36 per 100,000, and in 2016 it rose to 0.63 per 100,000. Twice as many kids are getting killed by guns as they were a decade ago.

More data reveals another disturbing pattern, firearm-related injuries among children rank fifth among injury-related deaths in Missouri. Not only are children dying more than they were a decade ago, but they are also suffering life-threatening and life-changing injuries from gun-related accidents.

As a parent, this is concerning. It is scary to think about children involved in gun violence. One reason these trends are on the rise seems to lie in the evolution of guns.

Rifles and hunting guns are more common in homes than they used to be. These hunting guns and rifles are usually left armed and stored in an area easily accessible to kids. The compound effect leads to a higher incidence of gun deaths.

One proposed solution is stricter gun laws. It is a statistical fact that if there are more guns, there will be more gun deaths. More guns are a direct consequence of lax gun laws.

In Missouri, 43.9% of households own guns, explaining how so many children are maimed or killed accidentally by guns. Among the other top states for gun deaths, there is also a trend of high ownership - Alaska has 56.4%, Montana has 67.5%, and Louisiana has 49% gun ownership.

The key is to enact stricter gun control laws. States like Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have the lowest per capita gun-related deaths. Why? They have stricter gun control laws. These states have laws that limit who can carry a concealed rifle, ban assault rifles, and require a universal background check to screen for ex-cons, people on the no-fly list, and those on the FBI watchlist. None of these measures are present in Missouri.

Stricter gun laws would mean fewer gun owners and fewer deaths. So, reword the phrase, 'Guns do kill people', and let us ensure it is as few as possible.