In 2016, lightning strikes tragically claimed the lives of four children in the United States, while gun violence resulted in the deaths of 637 children under 11. Between 2002 and 2011, over 9,000 American children under 12 lost their lives in car accidents. In 2014, 425 children aged 10 to 14 took their own lives. Unintentional incidents led to the deaths of 2,696 children under 14, and 643 children were victims of homicide. The CDC reports that approximately ten people drown accidentally every day, with two of those being children aged 14 or younger.
In stark contrast, in 2016, no American children were killed by terrorists. The previous record was one child during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Before that, there were no child fatalities due to terrorism for several years, including the years immediately following 9/11, where eight children tragically died, and during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, where 19 children lost their lives.
As discussions around the admission of Syrian refugees continue, it’s crucial to remember these statistics. While children in war-torn regions face overwhelming threats from violence, we are often more preoccupied with fears for our own kids than with the very real dangers they encounter daily. The vetting process for refugees is extensive, with nine separate steps to ensure safety, and only 1% of global refugees qualify for entrance into the U.S. The likelihood of a terrorist slipping through this rigorous process is significantly lower than the risk of a child drowning or dying from homicide.
We tend to focus on extraordinary threats rather than common risks. Major news outlets rarely discuss the alarming rates of child drownings or the high number of fatalities in car accidents. Instead, we are captivated by sensational stories involving mass shootings, shark attacks, and terrorism—events that dominate media coverage and influence public perception. As highlighted in “The Political Science of Risk Perception,” there’s often a disconnect between the actual risks assessed by experts and those perceived by the general public, which can be skewed by personal beliefs and experiences.
Fear around terrorism, fueled by media portrayals and political rhetoric, leads many to view refugees as potential threats rather than individuals fleeing violence. This narrative oversimplifies the complexities of terrorism, which has historical roots in many countries, including those that are U.S. allies.
Since the civil war in Syria began, the U.S. has accepted nearly 12,000 refugees, with the death toll of American children from these individuals remaining at zero. Instead of worrying about refugees, we should be more concerned about the everyday hazards present in our lives—the swimming pool, unsecured firearms, improperly installed car seats, and the risks of pregnancy complications or childhood illnesses.
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In summary, while terrorism is a significant concern, the everyday dangers that children face in our own communities demand our attention and action.
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