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Protection or Peril? An Analysis of Firearm-Related Deaths in the Home

NCJ Number
102142
Journal
New England Journal of Medicine Volume: 314 Issue: 24 Dated: (June 12, 1986) Pages: 1557-1560
Author(s)
A L Kellermann; D T Reay
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
To study the epidemiology of deaths from firearms kept in the home, this study reviewed all the gunshot deaths in King County, Wash., (population 1,270,000) from 1978 through 1983.
Abstract
The medical examiner's case files were supplemented by police records and interviews with investigating officers to obtain information on incident circumstances and setting, the type of firearm involved, and the suspect's relationship to the victim. A total of 743 firearm-related deaths occurred during the 6-year period, 398 of which (54 percent) occurred in the residence where the firearm was kept. Only 2 of these 398 deaths (.5 percent) involved an intruder shot during attempted entry. Seven persons (1.8 percent) were killed in self-defense. For every case of self-protection homicide involving a firearm kept in the home, there were 1.3 accidental deaths, 4.6 criminal homicides, and 37 suicides involving firearms. Handguns were used in 70.5 percent of these deaths. These data indicate that firearms kept in the home are more of a danger than a protection for the residents. 3 tables and 27 references. (Author abstract modified)

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