Gun Violence Now Georgia Parents’ Top Concern for Children, Emory Poll Finds

Gun violence has emerged as the leading concern among Georgia parents, according to the latest statewide poll from the Emory Center for Child Health Policy.  

Overall, 33% of Georgia parents rank gun violence among their top three concerns for their child, up from 27% from last year. Gun violence eclipsed education and school quality, which dropped from 39% to 32%, as parents’ top concern. While the top concerns remain closely grouped, concern about gun violence increased significantly year over year.

The latest release is part of the State of Child Health and Well-Being in Georgia 2026 report. Data were collected among a representative sample of 1,002 parents between October and November 2025. Parents were asked to rank their top three concerns.

“Gun violence remains the leading cause of death among Georgia children between the ages of 1 and 17, accounting for 129 deaths in 2023,” said Stephen Patrick, MD, director of the Emory Center for Child Health Policy. “Parents are telling us they are worried about gun violence in their communities and their schools.”

Last year’s survey found that nearly half of Georgia parents are firearm owners, and that parents were largely supportive of firearm safe storage provisions proposed by the Georgia Senate Safe Firearm Study Committee in 2024, with 80% of parents supporting tax incentives for safe firearm storage, and nearly 80% supporting civil and criminal penalties when a child is harmed after a firearm is not safely stored.  

The remainder of the top five concerns for parents were: social media use (30%), mental health and suicide (28%), and bullying/cyber bullying (26%).

“We know that keeping guns safely stored is our first line of defense to prevent a child or teen from accessing them. As parents, when our children go to another family’s home this means it is likely there’s a gun. While it may feel awkward at first before a play date or party, it is important for us to ask two questions: Do you have a gun in the house?  Is it safely stored?” said Patrick.

Throughout 2026, the Emory Center for Child Health Policy will continue to distribute poll results on child health and well-being as a part of ongoing efforts to elevate the voices of Georgia parents to understand their concerns for their children. Recent and forthcoming spring 2026 releases include polling on high school cellphone and technology policies, food security, mental and behavioral health, and water safety and drowning prevention.  

The Emory Center for Child Health Policy is part of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.