Sudden misplaced concern? Nearly 1,500 children younger than 18 years of age die from shootings every year. This is cause to change gun laws. Then water about WATER? About 1,500 children drown every year in the United States. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in children ages one month to 14 years of age in the United States as a whole, and the first leading cause of injury-related deaths in California, Arizona, and Florida.