CNN Commentator Makes Horrific-Sounding Claim About Guns and Children in Article — Then Someone Checks Her Facts

CNN commentator Sally Kohn published an opinion column on Thursday claiming that guns need to be regulated just like “toys” because 10,000 kids are killed by guns every year.

The number is jarring — but it’s also false.

Shortly after posting her column online, radio host John Cardillo publicly called her out, providing her with FBI crime statistics from 2014.

The numbers show there were a total of 11,961 homicides, but only 1,085 victims under the age of 18. Cardillo also noted many of the homicides involving teens and guns are crime-related.

(1) @CNN, @SallyKohn lied. 2014 FBI Stats 11,961 total homicides. Only 1,085 victims under 18. Not 10,000 by gun. pic.twitter.com/OoUW4ra5AE

— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) October 29, 2015

.@CNN, @sallykohn falsely multiplied the # of kids killed by guns by twelve. Does no one at CNN fact check before publishing content?

— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) October 29, 2015

Kohn was left with no choice but to issue a public correction on Twitter and in her opinion article online.

Correction forthcoming. My mistake. 10,000 children per year are killed *or injured* by guns. https://t.co/6UD48wMIA0

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) October 29, 2015

An editor’s note now appears at the bottom of the column:

Editor's note: An earlier version of this opinion essay misstated the number of children killed every year by guns. 10,000 children are killed or injured by guns every year, according to American Academy of Pediatrics.

However, the correction came hours after Cardillo pointed out the glaring mistake.

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This story has been updated.