Children Under Fire: An American Crisis by John Woodrow Cox
I stumbled upon Children Under Fire: An American Crisis by John Woodrow Cox over two years ago. The topic of gun violence was overwhelming, and growing up as a gun owner in a rural community, I had always heard pro-gun arguments. My family owned guns, and when I moved to a “big city” just a few miles up the highway, I was given my own handgun “for protection.”
Fast forward a couple of years, and mass shootings—particularly those in schools—became a near-constant headline in the news. I wanted a more informed perspective on gun ownership, proposed legislative solutions, and the effects of these shootings on the public. That’s when Children Under Fire caught my attention.
This book comes in at 336 pages and is published by Ecco. The Amazon Description of the book is below.
“In 2017, seven-year-old Ava in South Carolina wrote a letter to Tyshaun, an eight-year-old boy from Washington, DC. She asked him to be her pen pal; Ava thought they could help each other. The kids had a tragic connection—both were traumatized by gun violence. Ava’s best friend had been killed in a campus shooting at her elementary school, and Tyshaun’s father had been shot to death outside of the boy’s elementary school. Ava’s and Tyshaun’s stories are extraordinary, but not unique. In the past decade, 15,000 children have been killed from gunfire, though that number does not account for the kids who weren’t shot and aren’t considered victims but have nevertheless been irreparably harmed by gun violence.
In Children Under Fire, John Woodrow Cox investigates the effectiveness of gun safety reforms as well as efforts to manage children’s trauma in the wake of neighborhood shootings and campus massacres, from Columbine to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Through deep reporting, Cox addresses how we can effect change now, and help children like Ava and Tyshaun. He explores their stories and more, including a couple in South Carolina whose eleven-year-old son shot himself, a Republican politician fighting for gun safety laws, and the charlatans infiltrating the school safety business.
In a moment when the country is desperate to better understand and address gun violence, Children Under Fire offers a way to do just that, weaving wrenching personal stories into a critical call for the United States to embrace practical reforms that would save thousands of young lives.”
What I Loved
A Nonpartisan Approach to the Problem
Cox takes an incredibly data-driven approach to the issue of gun violence. He leaves no stone unturned and avoids making blanket statements attacking Republicans or praising Democrats. Instead, he examines the complex web of policies across the entire U.S., as well as state-specific laws that impact this crisis. He also compares international policies, helping readers see what has worked in other nations and how those lessons could apply here.
In today's politically polarized climate, especially after the 2024 election, this kind of bipartisan, public health-focused approach is critical.
A Public Health Perspective
I love books that use real data to tell a story. Numbers help paint a clear picture of the reality of an issue and show where change is possible. Cox uses statistics to examine key questions:
Which foreign policies have successfully reduced gun violence?
Which U.S. states have managed to decrease illegal gun ownership?
What do communities most affected by gun violence want to happen?
By treating gun violence as a public health crisis, Cox shifts the conversation away from politics and toward solutions that could save lives.
Real-Life, Solutions-Oriented Approach
Many books and articles focus on the brutality of mass shootings and the politicians who enable these tragedies but fail to offer realistic solutions. Cox does the opposite—he carefully examines what has worked, what hasn’t, and what everyday Americans can advocate for.
His solutions are practical, realistic, and capable of gaining bipartisan support. In 2025, America needs common-sense reforms that both Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Cox provides a blueprint for that.
Why You Should Read It Too
If you are a parent, if you attend concerts or public events, and especially if you own a gun, you need to read this book. Gun violence affects everyone, not just those directly involved in mass shootings.
For America to move toward a safer future, we cannot afford to remain uneducated about these issues. Children Under Fire is an eye-opening, fact-based, and emotionally compelling book that sheds light on one of the most urgent public health crises of our time.
