 |
|
Characteristics of Firearms Involved in Fatalities
Stephen W. Hargarten, MD, MPH;
Trudy A. Karlson, PhD;
Mallory O'Brien, MS;
Jerry Hancock, JD;
Edward Quebbeman, MD, PhD
JAMA. 1996;275(1):42-45.
Abstract
| |
Objectives.
—To document the types of firearms associated with firearm fatalities, and to determine the availability of information on firearm characteristics in existing data sources.
Design.
—Review of police, medical examiner, and crime laboratory records for all firearm homicides and review of medical examiner records for all suicides and unintentional and undetermined firearm fatalities.
Setting.
—City of Milwaukee, Wis, from 1990 through 1994.
Population.
—A total of 175 firearm suicides and 524 firearm homicides.
Main Outcome Measures.
—Source of data; circumstances and means of death; host demographic characteristics; firearm make, model, caliber, barrel length, and serial number.
Results.
—Handguns accounted for 468(89%) of 524 firearm homicides and 124 (71%) of 175 firearm suicides. Handguns of.25 caliber accounted for 14% (n=63) of 438 firearm homicides and 12% (n=15) of all firearm suicides in which caliber was known. The Raven MP-25 was the single most commonly identified firearm and accounted for 10% (n=15) of 153 handgun homicide cases and 7% (n=7) of the 76 suicide cases in which the manufacturer of the firearm was identified. From all data sources combined, information on firearm type was available in 681 (97%) of 699 cases, caliber/gauge in 636 cases (91%), manufacturer/model in 309 cases (44%), and serial number in 276 cases (40%).
Conclusions.
—Inexpensive, short-barreled.25-caliber handguns were the most common weapon type associated with firearm homicides and suicides in Milwaukee during 1990 through 1994. Product-specific information is a crucial part of planning appropriate injury countermeasures for firearms. In combination, police, crime laboratory, and medical examiner data can supply this information with modest changes in data collection procedures.
(JAMA. 1996;275:42-45)
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Emergency Medicine (Dr Hargarten and Ms O'Brien) and General Surgery (Dr Quebbeman), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis, University of Wisconsin—Madison (Dr Karlson); and the Office of Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Madison (Mr Hancock).
Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8700W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226 (Dr Hargarten).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Mental Health and Firearms in Community-Based Surveys: Implications for Suicide Prevention
Sorenson and Vittes
Eval Rev 2008;32:239-256.
ABSTRACT
Comparison of injury case fatality rates in the United States and New Zealand
Spicer et al.
Inj. Prev. 2005;11:71-76.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Adolescents and Firearms: A California Statewide Survey
Sorenson and Vittes
Am. J. Public Health 2004;94:852-858.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Impact of handgun types on gun assault outcomes: a comparison of gun assaults involving semiautomatic pistols and revolvers
Reedy and Koper
Inj. Prev. 2003;9:151-155.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Missing the target: a comparison of buyback and fatality related guns
Kuhn et al.
Inj. Prev. 2002;8:143-146.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Suicide guns: why collect this information?
Hargarten et al.
Inj. Prev. 2000;6:245-246.
FULL TEXT
National estimates of non-fatal firearm related injuries other than gunshot wounds
Hootman et al.
Inj. Prev. 2000;6:268-274.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
More Guns and Younger Assailants: A Combined Police and Trauma Center Study
Davis et al.
Arch Surg 1997;132:1067-1070.
ABSTRACT
A Critique of the Epidemiologic Study of Firearms and Homicide
BLACKMAN
Homicide Studies 1997;1:169-189.
ABSTRACT
Firearms and Fatalities
Blackman
JAMA 1996;275:1723-1723.
ABSTRACT
Firearms and Fatalities
Ferguson
JAMA 1996;275:1724-1724.
ABSTRACT
The Relationship Between Firearm Design and Firearm Violence: Handguns in the 1990s
Wintemute
JAMA 1996;275:1749-1753.
ABSTRACT
Firearms and Fatalities
Mainous et al.
JAMA 1996;275:1723-1724.
ABSTRACT
The Firearm Injury Reporting System Revisited
Teret
JAMA 1996;275:70-70.
ABSTRACT
|
