Over the past ten years, about thirty thousand kids and teens have been killed by gunfire--recently overtaking cancer as their second-leading cause of death.
-- John Woodrow Cox (chapter 1)

Importance: Cox assembles his evidence to prove that America is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence. He is greatly concerned about the number of children who have been directly or indirectly exposed to this gun violence.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn't invest meaningful resources into the study of gun violence for more than two decades because, in 1996, Congress forbade the agency from using government funds to 'advocate or promote gun control.
-- John Woodrow Cox (chapter 4)

Importance: Cox exposes the folly of banning government research into gun violence. He advocates for generous spending on research and violence prevention measures.

Tyshaun McPhatter learned what it felt like to get shot at when he was six, skidding down a red plastic slide.
-- John Woodrow Cox (chapter 5)

Importance: Here, Cox creates one of the most lasting images...