Again, these are simply the homicides, and, yes, they are declining, as ALL crime has declined year after year. Kidnappings by strangers are at an all time low, but does that mean we should encourage our little ones to talk to a stranger in the park?

These are rather frightening numbers from the CDC, which tracks deaths in the US:

EVERY DAY ON AVERAGE (all ages) Every day, 282 people in America are shot in murders, assaults, suicides & suicide attempts, accidents, and police intervention.
Every day, 86 people die from gun violence: 32 are murdered; 51 kill themselves; 2 die accidentally; 1, intent unknown.
Every day, 196 are shot and survive: 140 shot in an assault; 10 survive a suicide attempt; 43 are shot accidentally, 2 are shot in a police intervention.
EVERY DAY ON AVERAGE (ages 0-19) Every day, 50 children and teens are shot in murders, assaults, suicides & suicide attempts, accidents, and police intervention.
Every day, 8 children and teens die from gun violence: 5 are murdered; 2 kill themselves.
Every day, 42 children and teens are shot and survive: 33 shot in an assault; 1 survives a suicide attempt; 9 are shot accidentally