In 2012, state figures show, roughly three out of every 100,000 lives between the ages of 12 and 17 were ended with guns. Last year, gun deaths for that age group jumped to about eight out of 100,000 Texas teens.

All told, at least 248 teens died gun-related deaths last year compared with 79 a decade prior. State health officials say the numbers for the past two years are not yet final.

Physicians and gun safety advocates say the rate will continue to increase without intervention and attention.



....While the rate of Texas youths using guns in suicides has remained relatively flat in recent years, the rate of gun-related youth homicides has ticked up, according to state data.

For a three-year period just a decade ago, there were slightly more gun suicides than gun homicides, data shows. By contrast, in the last three years, homicide gun deaths have happened at nearly double the rate of suicides.