In light of the Magruder High School shooting on January 21, 2022, some might be pondering the

question: How common is weapon and gun carrying by youth?

Since the 1990’s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has monitored the health-
related behaviors of young people that contribute to causes of death and disability. Monitoring is
accomplished through a system of surveys. The official CDC system is referred to as the Youth Risk
Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). You can read more about this CDC system at this public website.
There also are links that allow one to explore historical youth behavior data.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm

One behavior that the CDC system monitors is violence-behaviors and experiences. For example, one
way this is achieved is by asking youth questions about carrying weapons and guns. The state of
Maryland, as well as all of its 24 public school districts, participate in the YRBSS. You can read more
about Maryland’s participation at this public website.

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/ccdpc/Reports/Pages/YRBS-Main.aspx

And so what do the data reveal about youth carrying weapons and guns? In the table, below, are
survey findings for high school students enrolled in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS),
Maryland (all sampled students – nearly 20,000), and the U.S.

(Note: The U.S. data below are from the 2017 YRBSS. The MCPS and Maryland data below are from
2018. Currently, the U.S. and Maryland are collecting data for the 2021/22 school year.)

YRBSS Question MCPS Maryland U.S.

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a 4.0% 5.7% 3.8%
weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property?
(Percentage indicating 1 or more days.)

During the past 12 months, on how many days did you 2.3% 4.5% 4.8%
carry a gun? (Do not count the days when you carried a
gun only for hunting or for a sport, such as target
shooting.) (Percentage indicating 1 or more days.)

During the past 12 months, how many times has someone 4.6% 7.8% 7.8%
threatened or injured you with a weapon such as a gun,
knife, or club on school property?
(Percentage indicating 1 or more times.)

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you not go 7.1% 9.2% 6.7%
to school because you felt you would be unsafe at school
or on your way to or from school?
(Percentage indicating 1 or more days.)