Firearm-related Incidents Research Articles

Firearm-Related Unintentional Childhood Injury in Israel.

The rise in demand for firearm licenses in Israel due to the ongoing 2023-2024 Israel-Gaza War, coupled with the easing of regulations for issuing weapons, is expected to lead to a significant increase in the incidence of firearms among civilians. This situation calls for a special awareness of civilian populations of the dangers posed to children by the high prevalence of firearms. We therefore present trends in firearm-related incidents resulting in unintentional mortality and morbidity of children ages 0-17 between the years 2008-2023 in Israel. In total, 202 accidents involving firearms were reported, with an average age of 12.2 (median: 13), and with the youngest child being 2 years old. Of these, 24 cases resulted in fatalities18 of which of children of Arab descent. We provide several recommendations concerning changes and additions to current bylaws concerning firearms licensing and storage in Israel, in order to decrease the risk of child injury due to irresponsible firearm handling.

Traumatic penile amputation managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria: a case series

BackgroundTraumatic penile amputation is a rare surgical emergency and a cause of anxiety and psychological distress to patients, spouses, or parents, especially when it occurs in children. Several mechanisms are involved in penile amputation and the management options also vary. We report two cases of penile amputation that our institution handled in the past year to draw attention to the risks associated with firearm confrontations and grinding machines as causes of genital injuries. In a similar vein, we look over the literature for management options.Case presentationIn the first case, a grinding machine resulted in an isolated total penile amputation of a 6-year-old boy. In contrast, the second patient was a 25-year-old man who had bilateral testicular injuries and near-total penile amputation as a result of gunshot injury as part of polytrauma. Both patients had a history of profuse bleeding from the penile stump associated with severe pain. Both patients were resuscitated and subsequently underwent emergency wound debridement and stump refashioning/meatoplasty. The first patient had a satisfactory outcome and was discharged home on follow-up visits while the second patient died from overwhelming sepsis with pulmonary embolism as a differential.ConclusionPenile injuries may increase in tandem with civilian firearm-related incidents. Similarly, grinding machines are an important cause of penile injuries. In emergencies, wound debridement followed by stump refashioning is an appropriate treatment option.

Smart city planning focused on the US cities in need of policing innovations and public health safety technologies and strategies

The issue of firearm-related injuries, deaths and crime in the United States is of particular relevance. Every year, about 32,000 lives are lost as a result of firearm-related incidents, including self-inflicted injuries. Other 74,000 people suffer non-fatal gunshot wounds. Addressing this multi-faceted problem is possible through a comprehensive and integrated approach that encompasses public health initiatives, law enforcement efforts, and security measures. In the context of solving this problem, the concepts of “community-oriented policing”, “problem-oriented policing”, “broken windows theory”, “smart city social sustainability initiative” (multi-system improvement and meeting the needs of marginalised residents), “feedback methodology”, etc. are thoroughly considered. The author proposes the strategic deployment of mini-police stations in areas with a high crime rate as proper centres of police visibility and a deterrent to criminals. To realise this task, it is necessary to integrate the latest approaches to Smart Urban Development with innovative urban planning technologies that would increase the influence of law enforcement agencies in the process of protecting public health and safety in cities. In particular, the article proposes the following for implementation: identifying crime hotspots by means of advanced geographic information systems, applying machine learning algorithms to predict future crime trends, using advanced real-time surveillance technologies and firearms detection systems, applying geospatial analysis to optimise patrol routes, dynamically adjusting patrol routes depending on real-time data analytics, deploying mobile command centres. As a result, law enforcement agencies can effectively communicate to potential criminals that their actions will not go unnoticed. They may achieve significant success in improving the overall quality of life of residents in such areas. Also, they will create safer communities, and reduce the number of incidents involving the use of firearms.

Scenario of Firearm Injuries in Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Review.

The global concern regarding the involvement of firearms in acts of violence, criminal activities, and terrorism has escalated, emerging as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with its rich cultural history, presents a unique backdrop characterized by diversity and distinctiveness. Recognizing the significance of addressing this issue within diverse demographics, we have undertaken a study to establish a database of firearm injury cases. This review is rooted in analyzing all published articles on firearm injuries in the KSA over the past three decades. The literature encompasses a substantial number of studies with diverse objectives, covering a range of parameters, including the types of cases (homicide, suicide, and accidental), the weaponry involved, the location of gunshot wounds, victim demographics (such as age), the timing of gunshot-related fatalities, and more. Studies consistently indicate that the lower extremities are the most frequently affected body regions, followed by the upper extremities and chest. This information will be a scientific, evidence-based resource to educate the public about firearm-related risks. In addition, it will aid in planning appropriate interventions and formulating stricter laws to regulate the issuance of firearm licenses and impose severe penalties for carrying firearms in public spaces. The ultimate goal is to prevent the loss of life and mitigate the lifelong disabilities resulting from firearm-related incidents.

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Phoenix Crime Gun Liaison Program: Leveraging Patrol Officers for Investigations

Despite considerable attention to gun violence, crime gun investigations have received limited empirical focus. Research suggests that reliance on specialized investigators and long periods of time between gun crimes, evidence collection, and evidence processing are barriers to timely intelligence. The Phoenix Police Department Crime Gun Liaison Program (CGLP) intended to close this gap by increasing the capacity of patrol officers to investigate gun-related offenses. To examine the impact of the CGLP, a randomized control trial was used to select 16 treatment and 16 matched control officers. We supplement quantitative analyses with qualitative results from focus groups. Treatment officers were referred to and responded to significantly more firearm-related incidents, which resulted in collecting significantly more casings, firearms, fingerprints, and DNA samples during the six-month study period than control officers. Treatment officers also generated a significantly higher number of NIBIN leads and arrests. However, incident-level analyses provided less consistent results, though incidents involving treatment officers remained more likely to result in arrest. Qualitative results support these findings, with officers finding value in the program and reporting improved ability to respond to gun crime and reduced time spent processing scenes. Leveraging patrol officers can improve police agency capacity for responding to gun violence.

Should inorganic or organic gunshot residues be analysed first?

Gunshot residues (GSR) collected during the investigation of firearm-related incidents can provide useful information for the reconstruction of the events. Two main types of GSR traces can be targeted by forensic scientists, the inorganic (IGSR) and the organic GSR (OGSR). Up to now, forensic laboratories have mainly focused on the detection of inorganic particles on the hands and clothes of a person of interest using carbon stubs analysed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Several approaches have been proposed to also analyse the organic compounds since they might bring additional information for the investigation. However, implementing such approaches might disrupt the detection of IGSR (and vice versa depending on the applied sequence of analysis). In this work, two sequences were compared for the combined detection of both types of residues. One carbon stub was used for collection, and the analysis was performed either by targeting the IGSR or the OGSR first. The aim was to evaluate which one allows maximum recovery of both types of GSR while minimising losses that might occur at different stages of the analysis process. SEM/EDS was used for the detection of IGSR particles while an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used for the analysis of OGSR compounds. Extracting OGSR first required the implementation of an extraction protocol that did not interfere with the IGSR particles present on the stub. Both sequences allowed good recovery of the inorganic particles since no significant difference was observed in the detected concentrations. However, OGSR concentrations were lower after IGSR analysis than before for two compounds (ethyl and methylcentralite). Thus, it is advised to extract rapidly the OGSR before or after IGSR analysis to avoid losses during the storage and analysis processes. The data also indicated that there was a low correlation between IGSR and OGSR highlighting the potential of a combined detection and analysis of both types of GSR.

Analysis of Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

In the US, the COVID-19 pandemic intensified some conditions that may contribute to firearm violence, and a recent surge in firearm sales during the pandemic has been reported. However, patterns of change in firearm violence in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US remain unclear. To quantify the changes in interpersonal firearm violence associated with the pandemic across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. This population-based cross-sectional study examined 50 US states and the District of Columbia from January 1, 2016, to February 28, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic period was defined as between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed from April to December 2021. A 2-stage interrupted time-series design was used to examine the excess burden of firearm-related incidents, nonfatal injuries, and deaths associated with the pandemic while accounting for long-term trends and seasonality. In the first stage, separate quasi-Poisson regression models were fit to the daily number of firearm events in each state. In the second stage, estimates were pooled using a multivariate meta-analysis. In the US (all 50 states and the District of Columbia) during the pandemic period of March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, there were 62 485 identified firearm-related incidents, 40 021 firearm-related nonfatal injuries, and 19 818 firearm-related deaths. The pandemic period was associated with 8138 (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI], 2769-12 948) excess incidents (increase of 15.0% [95% eCI, 4.6%-26.1%]), 10 222 (95% eCI, 8284-11 650) excess nonfatal injuries (increase of 34.3% [95% eCI, 26.1%-41.1%]), and 4381 (95% eCI, 2262-6264) excess deaths (increase of 28.4% [95% eCI, 12.9%-46.2%]). The increase in firearm-related violence was more pronounced from June to October 2020 and in Minnesota and New York State. In the US, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an excess burden of firearm-related incidents, nonfatal injuries, and deaths, with substantial temporal and spatial variations.

Clinical characteristics of firearm-related injuries in children in Turkey

A significant number of children are injured by or die from firearm-related incidents every year, although there is a lack of global data on the number of children admitted to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICU) with firearm injuries. This study is the most comprehensive analysis of firearm injuries sustained by children in Turkey to date. This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was conducted between 2010 and 2020 with the contributions of the PEDs, PICUs, intensive care units, and surgery departments of university hospitals and research hospitals. A total of 508 children were admitted to hospital with firearm-related injuries in the research period, although the medical records of only 489 could be obtained. Of the total admissions to hospitals, 55.0% were identified as unintentional, 8.2% as homicide, 4.5% as self-harm, and 32.3% as undetermined. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and ventilation support were found to be the most significant predictors of mortality, while head/neck injury, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant predictors of disability. The overall mortality of firearm-related injuries was 6.3%, and the mortality for children admitted to the PICU was 19.8%. The probability of disability was calculated as 96.0% for children hospitalized with firearm injuries for longer than 75 days. Head/neck injury, LOS in the hospital, and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant parameters for the prediction of disability. Hospitalization exceeding 6 days was found to be related to disability.

Patients With Suicidal Patterns in the Emergency Room: A Clinical and Social Reflection.

Background and objectiveEmergency physicians come across a myriad of medical afflictions resulting from suicide attempts. The Indian contribution to global suicide deaths is alarming; the social construct of India is unique, and so are the problems and challenges. This study aims to describe the social background, demographic parameters and correlate the clinical profile and outcomes of all patients presenting with an attempted or completed suicide.Materials and methodsThe present study is a hospital-based prospective observational study conducted by the Department of Emergency Medicine at RL Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre, a rural tertiary-care center in Karnataka, India, from June 2020 to February 2021. After stabilizing the patient, a detailed socio-demographic history was recorded. Details of the suicide attempt and findings of the clinical examination were noted.ResultsThe final study sample consisted of 89 patients who presented to the emergency room (ER). Fifty-three patients were female, and thirty-six were males; the average age of the sample was 28.4 ± 11 years. A higher proportion of men who completed pre-university education (p= 0.0005, c2= 11.98) or had a graduate degree (p= 0.009, c2= 6.71) attempted suicide. Amongst all women who attempted suicide, 73.6% (n=39) were married at the time of the event (p= 0.0006, c2= 11.79). Poisoning (n=59) was the most common method of attempting suicide. We also observed that it was primarily men who attempted suicide when under the influence of alcohol (p= 0.006, c2= 7.57). The most common reason for attempting suicide was familial disharmony, including domestic violence. A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9/15 and less at the time of presentation resulted in a mortality rate of 28.6%, whereas patients with a GCS score of 10 and above had a mortality rate of 6.1% (p= 0.04, c2= 4.14).DiscussionMarriage appears to be less protective for Indian women than Indian men. Poisoning was the most common method of attempted suicide in our study, followed by tablet overdose. The reason for the above could be ease of access to household poisons. Insecticides have been a preferred method in the Indian population over the years. Aluminum phosphide poisoning, a common constituent of rodenticides, is associated with a high mortality rate. However, in the West, firearm-related incidents have the highest mortality. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India, data showed that adult males succumb majorly to romantic relations, unemployment, and failure in examinations. The use of alcohol was more in the illiterate and unskilled workers; however, high school educated persons and students used alcohol intentionally to facilitate suicide. Lower Glasgow Coma Scale values are associated with higher fatality; however, some studies found that Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score (APACHE) II scores are better mortality indicators.ConclusionBesides the presentation and GCS score, cognizance of the lethality of different methods in attempting suicide provides clues in anticipating the patient's clinical course. The social patterns of suicide must be considered while designing awareness campaigns and focused outreach programs to decrease suicides. A strict policy must be made and enforced to limit the availability of household poisons.

Evaluating the effect of barrel length on pellet distribution patterns of sawn-off shotguns

In recent years, sawn-off shotguns have been regularly encountered in firearm-related incidents. Shotgun represents a community threat due to their ability to be shortened in order to improve their concealability. In practice, forensic scientists and investigators may be asked to determine if a shotgun used in a particular event might have been shortened based on the pellet distribution. To investigate the effect of altering the barrel length on pellet distribution, five 12-gauge shotguns were progressively shortened. Each shotgun was assessed at six barrel lengths and a single discharge of No. 4 shot shotshell ammunition was fired at a fixed fabric target. The shotguns were positioned at six different distances from target and experiments conducted in triplicate. The fabric targets containing pellet pattern underwent data analysis to calculate the pellet distribution area. At short distances from target (≤ 1.0 m), the pellet penetration was observed as a single entry point as the pellets did not have a sufficient flight time to spread from each other. For distances of 2.5 m, 5 m and 10 m, pellet penetration patterns were observed and a quantitative analysis was performed on the samples containing pellet distribution patterns. At each of these distances, it was detected that there was a noticeable increase in pellet distribution area between the unaltered shotgun and altered barrel lengths for all shotguns. The distance from the target as well as the presence of a choke in the shotgun’s barrel was found to have a greater impact on the pellet distribution than the barrel length.

Firearm Injury in the United States: An Overview of an Evolving Public Health Problem

Firearm injury is a serious public health problem in the United States. The prevalence varies among different states and age groups. Firearm injuries represent a serious economic burden for the US health care system, costing more than $70 billion annually. The motives for gun purchase and the medical and socioeconomic background of gun owners vary among the US population, depicting the complexity of the problem. The increasing number of firearm-related incidents, including mass shootings in schools, justifies the urge for taking preventive measures in order to decrease the number of gun-related injuries and deaths.... Language: en

Providing Medication Therapy Management for Smoking Cessation Patients

Nearly 50 years ago, the Surgeon General of the US Public Health Service released the first report of the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health. The report concluded that cigarette smoking caused lung and laryngeal cancer as well as bronchitis. Today, smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of deaths in the United States. Research has shown that it potentially causes more deaths than human immunodeficiency virus, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents. Health care providers play a critical role in guiding and directing patients to quit smoking by introducing them to smoking-cessation options. This is due to the fact that if these patients quit, they can reduce their cardiovascular risk. Pharmacists, being one of the easily accessible health care providers, have an advantage over other clinicians when it comes to influencing patients to quit smoking and to modify their lifestyles. Pharmacists through medication therapy management directly interact with these patients to manage medications as well as behavioral factors.

A partial assessment of South Carolina's Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy: Evidence from a sample of supervised offenders

Since 2001, the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative has instituted a comprehensive effort to reduce gun crimes in local communities across the United States. In South Carolina, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina established Project CeaseFire, a localized response to reduce the prevalence of gun crime through targeted prosecution and increased public education. One element of Project CeaseFire was carried out by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services. The current study utilized a quasi-experimental design to compare firearm-related incidents among a random sample of offenders under community supervision prior to and after the implementation of the SCDPPPS CeaseFire program. Although incidents involving a firearm were rare, the current results did not indicate a reduction in firearm-related incidents among offenders entering supervision after the SCDPPPS CeaseFire program was implemented. Instead, an increase in firearm incidents was observed after CeaseFire implementation. Possible explanations for the observed results are offered along with limitations to the study and policy implications.

Nonfatal firearm misuse: licence status of perpetrators and legality of the firearms.

The primary aim of this study was to identify the licence status of those involved in incidents of nonfatal firearm-related misuse and to determine the involvement of legal firearms in such incidents. Firearm-related attempted suicides were excluded. The study also sought to identify the types of firearms most likely to be misused. Over a three-month period in early 1994, all nonfatal firearm-related incidents reported in any New Zealand newspaper were identified by a commercial clipping bureau. Data pertaining to the licence status and the legality of the firearm involved in these incidents were obtained from the police who completed a standardized questionnaire under the Official Information Act (1982). Over the study period, 78 incidents yielded information on 97 perpetrators and 100 firearms. Of the 97 perpetrators, 66 per cent were unlicensed, 20 per cent were licensed, the licence status of 8 per cent of the perpetrators was unknown and the remaining 7 per cent were using air guns and therefore a licence was not required. Half of the perpetrators involved in domestic disputes were licensed. Of the 100 firearms, 44 per cent were classified as "legal firearms' and 56 per cent were classified as "illegal firearms'. These findings suggest that strategies aimed at reducing or preventing injury due to firearm misuse must focus on both licensed and unlicensed individuals and both legal and illegal firearms.

Firearm injuries in NSW

Debate on the relationship between gun ownership and preventable serious injury re-emerged after the shotgun deaths of seven people at Strathfield Plaza in Sydney in August and other firearm-related incidents in the following weeks.