Use Of Firearms Research Articles

Gunshot injury of the urethra in non-conflicting period: two case reports in Abidjan

Introduction: The deliberate or accidental use of firearms can cause sometimes unusual bodily injuries, the prognosis of which is unpredictable. Injuries to the lower urinary tract caused by firearms are rare and atypical. Clinical case: We report two cases of section of the urethra by firearm. These were 02 cases of firearm injury to the urethra in different settings. The associated lesions were all different, conditioning the management. In the 02 cases, treatment was carried out in 02 stages and the prognosis was favourable in 01 cases. Conclusion: The management of urethral transection is complex. In the case of section by firearm, associated lesions may have an impact on prognosis. Keywords: projectile - Trauma – uretroplasty.

Rethinking Security Paradigms in the Face of External Backlash: A Case Study in Private Security

Premises security is essential for organizations to function efficiently and effectively. The sanctity of space and its associated perimeter not only signals a boundary for outsiders but also serves as a second home for organizational members. These members cannot meet organizational requirements if they are constantly on guard, protecting themselves and the organization’s property. However, the gradual encroachment of industrial space by squatters, while reflecting uneven economic development, presents significant security challenges, as some inhabitants of informal settlements find pilfering and other petty crimes financially rewarding. The dominant security strategy typically involves armed guards, whose presence may act as a deterrent. However, the death of an intruder or trespasser due to a guard using his firearm has far-reaching implications due to prevailing legal doctrines and stakeholder dynamics. In India, the legal system treats death as a serious matter, out of proportion to the crime of theft, and the socio-political environment echoes this perspective. Such deaths often lead to collective protests from citizens, often in the form of a dharna or a gherao, which not only disrupts the firm’s operations but also poses a challenge to legal and administrative authorities and management. Dispersing the dharna and preventing it from escalating into a violent mob typically requires the management to negotiate compensation with the aggrieved family, alongside a commitment to legal authorities to impose strict restrictions on the use of firearms. The erosion of deterrence following such negotiations renders security guards ineffective. Their response to trespassing and pilfering is reduced to physical confrontation, attempting to evict individuals, which places guards at risk when faced with armed intruders. Our case study illustrates how an organization restored deterrence, and thus the sanctity of its perimeter, by incorporating attack dogs into its security strategy.

Contextual Factors Influencing Firearm Deaths Occurring Among Children.

Contextual factors that contribute to firearm injuries among children aged 0 to 10 are not well understood. A retrospective review of the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System was conducted for firearm deaths of children aged 0 to 10 from 2004 to 2020. Descriptive analyses characterized child and parent demographics, incident details, firearm characteristics, and firearm use. Cluster analysis identified key clustering of contextual variables to inform prevention efforts. Within the study timeframe, 1167 child firearm deaths were reported (Mage = 4.9; 63.2% male; 39.4% urban). At the time of the incident, 52.4% of firearms were reported unlocked and 38.5% loaded. Firearm deaths occurred primarily at the child's home (69.0%) or a friend or relative's home (15.9%), with most involving a handgun (80.6%). Children were supervised in 74.6% of incidents, and 38.4% of child supervisors were impaired during the incident. Cluster analysis identified incident contextual factors clustering in distinct groups, including unsupervised firearm play, long gun discharge while cleaning, hunting, or target shooting, supervised discharge within the child's home, murder-suicide events, deaths occurring in the context of intimate partner violence, and community violence firearm deaths. Data highlight the importance of primary prevention through secure firearm storage to prevent child firearm deaths. Efforts focused on identifying and reducing intimate partner violence, addressing community violence (eg, community greening), and implementing policy that limit firearm access (eg, domestic violence restraining orders, background checks), may reduce child firearm deaths.

Current issues of conducting classes on fire training of police officers under martial law

The article addresses pertinent issues related to conducting firearms training sessions for police officers in conditions of a state of war. The authors analyze significant aspects of this activity, including teaching methods and techniques, personnel training specifics, as well as challenges and threats that may arise during armed conflicts. The main focus is on practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of police training for operating in conditions of a state of war. The article analyzes changes and modifications in the methodology of teaching and studying fire training in institutions of higher education with specific conditions of study, subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine under martial law, which would take into account all aspects of the application and use of firearms and ensure high- quality training of students of higher education for actions in stressful and dangerous situations. The authors explore the practical-tactical possibilities of conducting firearms training sessions, comparing them with regulated and recommended regulatory acts. It is established that existing methods do not correspond to the real conditions of firearms application. Special attention is given to the issues of modern methods of firearms usage and changes in teaching methodology to increase proficiency. Features and methods of teaching fire training in higher education institutions with specific training conditions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine are outlined, as well as innovations in this field of training are indicated. A separate view is focused on the need for modern material and technical support, since the solution to the problem of police training requires a comprehensive approach, which includes the provision of the necessary resources for conducting specialized classes, both in closed rooms and on appropriately equipped modern training grounds, and support in the development of professional skills. Also, the authors emphasize the need to improve the legal training of personnel to provide them with a clear understanding of the laws and regulations related to the use of weapons.

Media Coverage of Suicidal Behaviour in the Context of Slovenian independence

Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia and became independent in 1991 after a ten-day war. Slovenia had the highest suicide rate of all the member states of Yugoslavia. All young men in Yugoslavian states served the military out of their home state and some soldiers returned in a coffin because of suicide. This, among other factors, was the trigger for the discussion about independence, in which Slovenian newspapers played a part. Suicide rates tend to be lower in wartime, but soldiers also face an array of risk factors for suicidality. The aim of the study was to understand which stories about suicide were published in the Slovenian newspapers Delo and Večer. We analyzed the period before, during and after independence. We found three predominant themes: stories about Slovenian soldiers, political agenda and informative articles. Political agenda was in the foreground before independence, namely the desire for independence and later the consequences of independence. Stories about Slovenian soldiers were most common in the period of independence, with tales of actual suicides with the use of firearms as a method of suicide. In the post-independence period, we have mainly identified articles that give an insight into society's attitude towards suicide. This study sheds light on how suicide in the military was portrayed in the Slovenian media before, during and after independence.

Firearm Experiences, Behaviors, and Norms Among Rural Adolescents

Rural adolescents are at high risk for firearm-related injury, yet most existing prevention efforts are informed by research conducted in urban areas. Despite the need to account for rural perspectives, few studies have investigated the unique social ecological context of firearms for rural adolescents or have directly engaged with rural adolescents to understand their views on firearm use. To describe rural adolescents' firearm behaviors and perceptions of firearm-related social norms within their communities, peer groups, and families. This cross-sectional study used a convergent mixed-methods design and involved a community-based participatory research approach. Participants comprised 93 adolescents residing in rural Washington state and enrolled in a county or tribal reservation 4-H youth development program as an intermediate or senior age-level grouping (ie, aged 12-19 years). Adolescents completed a survey and participated in a semistructured focus group or interview between September 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis. Individual handgun behavior and peer, family, and community perceptions of firearm-related social norms. The sample included 93 adolescents (mean [SD] age, 15.7 [1.7] years; 49 female participants [52.7%]). Approximately half of participants (52 [55.9%]) had carried a handgun at some point in their lives, with a mean (SD) age at first carry of 10.9 (3.1) years. Primary themes across quantitative and qualitative data focused on social norms (specifically, acceptable and unacceptable ways to engage with firearms, reasons for carrying firearms, and places to carry a firearm). In this cross-sectional study, rural adolescents in 4-H programs generally understood acceptable and unacceptable firearm carrying behaviors, which aligned with state laws. Findings provide context for rural adolescent behaviors such as carrying a firearm predominantly for prosocial reasons (hunting, recreation, and sport) and adult behavior such as carrying for protection of person and personal property. Understanding firearm-related social norms in rural communities holds implications for firearm injury prevention efforts, especially related to enhancing training, developing norms-based prevention approaches, and tailoring efforts to rural settings.

Psychological rehabilitation of law enforcement officers after the use of firearms

Alongside the global evolution in societal relations, characterized by the advancement of democratization and the humanization of the social environment, the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms has become paramount. In this context, the psychological well-being of law enforcement officers stands out as a critical concern, shaped by a multitude of factors. The intensity of this issue is magnified in countries experiencing military conflict, as the psychological burden on Ukrainian law enforcement personnel has escalated dramatically due to ongoing warfare. One of the most pressing concerns in this context is the use of lethal firearms. The professional duties of law enforcement officers are inherently stressful, exposing them to situations that can induce severe psycho-emotional disorders. The high-risk environment in which they operate, coupled with complex moral and ethical dilemmas and strenuous physical demands, highlights the urgent need for comprehensive psychological rehabilitation. Moreover, the challenges faced by law enforcement officers are not limited to the immediate dangers of their work. They also endure the long-term effects of repeated exposure to traumatic events, which can lead to conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. The societal expectations placed upon them, particularly in times of crisis, further exacerbate the psychological strain, as they are often required to make split-second decisions that can have life-altering consequences. In addition to addressing these immediate psychological needs, there is a growing recognition of the importance of preventive measures. This includes providing officers with ongoing mental health support, training in stress management techniques, and fostering a work environment that prioritizes psychological resilience.

Уголовно-правовые меры специальной профилактики насильственных посягательств и их реализация полицией при межотраслевой конкуренции права

Introduction. The article deals with the issues of effectiveness of one of the directions of police activity in the sphere of special prevention of offences – the suppression of the most dangerous violent encroachments, infliction of harm when apprehending a person having committed a crime, through the use of physical force, special means and firearms by police officers. The lack of consistency in legal regulation, in particular, in the conditions of legality of necessary defence in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Federal Law of 7 February 2011 No.3 “On Police”, leads to interbranch competition of non-contradictory norms of different branches of law, regulating analogous social relations in the sphere of protection of a person and the rights of the defeated or other persons, but with a different degree of specification of the legal prescription. In a number of cases, the current situation leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of the protection of an individual from violent encroachments, the appearance of possible negative consequences for the personal safety of an official himself protected by the state from legal injustice and court errors. Methods and Results. Based on the ideas on the dialectical connection between the state policy in the sphere of counteraction to crime and criminal law, the author critically assesses the system of legal regulation of the use of measures of special prevention of violent offences on the example of the use of firearms by police officers in the situation of necessary defence. With the use of axiological, logical-legal methods and content analysis the author’s variant of comprehensive approach to improving the mechanism of counteraction to violent offences through criminal-legal measures is given. This author’s alternative is brought for discussion by specialists of criminal-legal profile.

Levels and Changes in Defensive Firearm Use by US Crime Victims, 1987‒2021.

Objectives. To examine levels and temporal changes in the frequency of defensive gun use by US crime victims. Methods. We computed national-level counts of criminal incidents involving firearm defense during 3 periods: 1993 to 2005, 2007 to 2015, and 2016 to 2021. We also considered earlier national estimates for 1987 to 1990. The data came from the US Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). We counted firearm defenses as incidents in which victims used a gun to threaten or attack an offender. Results. Over the 4 periods, for all crimes, victims reported gun defenses in an average range of between 61 000 and 65 000 incidents per year. This included between 38 000 and 53 000 personal (violent) incidents and between 12 000 and 23 000 household (property) incidents. Conclusions. Firearm defenses occurred at a relatively low and nearly constant level over the 35-year period. Although some victims use guns for defense, these uses are infrequent compared with the incidence of crime. Public Health Implications. The continuing relative rarity of NCVS armed defenses suggests that claims about the protective benefits of widespread firearm ownership may be overstated. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(12):1384-1387. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307838).

Parental Engagement With Children Around Firearms and Unsecure Storage

This cross-sectional study analyzed the association between parents’ engagement with their children regarding responsible and safe firearm use and the security of firearm storage in their homes.

A national study of firearm exposure and safety training among rural youth

BackgroundData regarding rural youths’ experience with firearms, including safety training, is highly limited despite their frequent presence in homes. Our objective was to investigate rural adolescents’ use of firearms and whether they had received formal firearm training.MethodsA convenience sample of 2021 National FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) Convention & Expo attendees were given an anonymous survey at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital injury prevention booth. The survey explored their use of rifles/shotguns and handguns and whether they had completed a certified firearm safety course. Descriptive and comparative analyses, including multivariable logistic regression analyses, were performed on compiled data.Results3206 adolescents ages 13–18 years participated with 45% reporting they lived on a farm or ranch. The vast majority of participants (85%) had fired a rifle/shotgun; 43% reported firing them > 100 times. Of those that had fired rifles/shotguns, 41% had done so before 9 years old. Most had also fired a handgun (69%), with 23% having fired handguns > 100 times. Of those that had fired handguns, 44% had done so before 11 years. Average age for first firing rifles/shotguns was 9.5 (SD 3.1) years, and 11.1 (SD 3.0) years for handguns. Males, non-Hispanic Whites, and those living on farms or in the country had significantly greater percentages who had fired a rifle/shotgun or a handgun. Significant differences were also seen by U.S. census region. Over half (64%) reported having gone hunting. Of those that had used a firearm, 67% had completed a firearm safety training course. Overall, 23% were/had been members of a school or club shooting team and of these, 87% had taken a safety course.ConclusionsMost FFA member participants had fired both rifles/shotguns and handguns, many at very young ages. Significant differences in firearm use were noted by demographic factors including the home setting (i.e., farms and ranches) and their U.S. census region. Nearly one-third of adolescent firearm users had not received formal safety training. Promoting firearm safety should include advising families on when it is developmentally appropriate to introduce youth to firearms and on the importance of firearm safety training.

Federal Firearm Licensee Rates and Suicide in Maryland, 2014 to 2019

Federal firearm licensee density is associated with interpersonal firearm violence. Yet the role of Federal firearm licensees in firearm suicide remains understudied, even though firearms are the method used in more than half of suicides. This study tested associations between the spatial distribution of federal firearm licensees and firearm suicides in Maryland. Kernel density estimation measured federal firearm licensee and suicide rates at the census tract level (n=1,397), and SaTScan detected clusters of licensees and suicides. Choropleth maps compared visual associations between federal firearm licensee, firearm, and non-firearm suicide rates and clusters. Generalized estimating equations tested associations between Federal firearm licensee rates and clusters and the odds of using a firearm as the lethal means overall and after stratifying by biological sex. Data were obtained in 2020 and analyzed in 2020-2024. The federal firearm licensee rate was associated with greater odds of firearm suicide overall (aOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.21, 1.38, p<0.001), for men (aOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.20, 1.39, p<0.001), and for women (aOR=1.26, 95% CI=1.07, 1.49, p=0.007). Suicide decedents in a census tract located in a federal firearm licensee cluster (vs not) had higher odds of firearm use overall (aOR=1.70, 95% CI=1.28, 2.27, p<0.001) and for men (aOR=1.67, 95% CI=1.22, 2.27, p=0.001), but not for women (aOR=1.65, 95% CI=0.81, 3.34, p=0.168). The federal firearm licensee rate and clusters were associated with firearm suicides and unrelated to the spatial distribution of non-firearm suicides. Prevention approaches that limit the number of these federal firearm licensees or alter their sales practices, such as federal firearm licensee zoning and land use provisions, advertising restrictions, or gun shop projects, may prevent firearm suicides.

Exploratory qualitative study of firearm storage practices among surgeons in the USA: contexts and motivations

BackgroundA US survey of surgeons found that 32% store firearms unlocked and loaded. This study explored conditions and contexts impacting personal firearm storage methods among surgeons.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with...

Retrospective Evaluation of Adolescent Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Suicidal Attempt

Objective: Suicide attempts among adolescents are a major public health problem. It is important to understand the prevalence of suicide attempts in the adolescent population and the risk factors underlying the attempts so that the necessary precautions can be taken by health authorities. We therefore aimed to retrospectively evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of adolescent patients presented to the emergency department due to suicide attempts. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included adolescent patients aged 10-19 years who presented to the emergency department for suicide attempt between August 01, 2018 and July 31, 2023. Ethics committee approval was obtained and data were collected from the hospital automation system through ICD codes. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, intervention methods, treatment processes and outcomes of the patients were analysed in detail. Results: Of the 126 patients included in the study, 80.2% were female, 19.8% were male, and the mean age was 184 months. 97.6% of the patients attempted suicide by ingestion of drugs or substances, and the rest of the patients preferred methods such as jumping from a height, firearm and sharp instrument use. Depression was the most common comorbid psychiatric disorder and was identified in 73.7% of the adolescents in the study. 42.1% of the patients presented to the emergency department with other complaints along with the suicide attempt. Treatments such as gastric lavage and activated charcoal were administered in the majority of admissions. Conclusions: This study reveals that suicide attempts are an important public health problem in the adolescent population and psychiatric disorders, especially depression, play a role in these attempts. It was observed that suicide attempts were more common among adolescent females. The findings emphasise the importance of early screening and interventions for the prevention and management of suicide attempts in adolescents. The findings of the study shed light on efforts to review and improve current management strategies and demonstrate the need for large-scale community-based studies.

Failed primary repair of blunt duodenal injury managed by tube duodenostomy, gastrojejunostomy and a feeding jejunostomy: a case report

BackgroundThe worldwide increase in road traffic crashes and use of firearms has increased the incidence of duodenal injuries. Upper gastrointestinal radiological studies and computed tomography (CT) in resource settings may lead to the diagnosis of blunt duodenal injury. Exploratory laparotomy remains the ultimate diagnostic test if a high suspicion of duodenal injury continues in the face of absent or equivocal radiographic signs. Although the majority of duodenal injuries may be managed by simple repair, high-risk duodenal injuries are followed by a high incidence of suture line dehiscence and should be treated by duodenal diversion.Case presentationWe report a case of a failed primary repair of a blunt injury to the second part of the duodenum (D2) in a 24-year-old African man. This was successfully managed by a tube duodenostomy, a bypass gastrojejunostomy and a feeding jejunostomy in a low resource setting.ConclusionsDetailed knowledge of the available operative choices in duodenal injury and their correct application is important. When duodenal repair is needed, conservative repair techniques over complex reconstructions should be utilised. The technique of tube duodenostomy can be successfully applied to cases of large defects in the second part of the duodenum (D2), failed previous repair attempts and with defects caused by different aetiology. It may remain especially useful as a damage-control procedure in patients with multiple injuries, significant comorbidities and/or haemodynamic instability.

Administrative liability for violations of civil firearms circulation rules as a component of state control

The article provides an analysis of the compositions of administrative offenses in the sphere of circulation of civilian firearms. During the research, a number of problematic aspects were identified that could negatively affect the application of the relevant provisions of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, and a series of proposals were put forward to address these gaps. In particular, the publication emphasizes the need to differentiate in Article 85 of the Code of Administrative Offenses the administrative responsibility for violations of hunting rules depending on the type of animals that have been hunted or attempted to be hunted by the subject of the respective offense, taking into account the rates for calculating the compensation for damages caused as a result of violations of legislation in the field of hunting and game management (except for species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine). The paper also highlights the expediency of differentiation of liability in the aforementioned article of the Law for Fisheries with the use of firearms based on the criterion of causing or not causing damage to ichthyofauna by relevant actions. Furthermore, the author proposes to amend Article 174 of the Code of Administrative Offenses regarding the use of firearms in the following version: ‘Shooting with firearms in an uncleared area of a populated area, in an uncleared area outside a populated area, or in a cleared area in violation of the established procedure’ and to differentiate responsibility in the specified norm depending on the place of commission of the administrative offense as a feature of the objective side. Moreover, with the aim of improving and enhancing the effectiveness of the application of administrative-legal prescriptions, the scientific article focuses on the controversial aspects of the object, objective side, and subject of the composition of the administrative offense envisaged by Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; normative formulation of the title and disposition of Article 192 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; the circle of persons constituting the subjective composition of administrative offenses envisaged in Articles 191–195 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; sanctions for committing administrative offenses provided for in Parts 1, 2, 4 of Article 85 and Articles 174, 190–195 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Legal Foundations of State Policy on Self-Defense Weapons: In Quest of a Balance between Public and Private Interests

The debate on the right of citizens to carry short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, has been going on for more than 30 years. The essence of these debates goes far beyond the limits of administrative law, since it is not limited only by the administrative law mechanism for implementing the procedure for acquiring, carrying and using weapons, acting as part of the public legal mechanism for ensuring personal security, security of the society and the State. The relevance of the issues of civilian arms trafficking is aggravated by the complication of the criminal situation during periods of social or economic upheavals that determine the choice of the trajectory of development of state policy for arms trafficking as an area of public law relations. The arguments of supporters and opponents of the use of firearms for self-defense are usually accompanied by arguments based on faith and beliefs rather than on facts and measurements. The purpose of the study is to summarize the legal and empirical resources characterizing administrative law foundations of state policy in relation to lethal and non-lethal self-defense weapons; to assess domestic legislative decisions and determine the directions for further administrative law development of state policy regarding arms trafficking, the expediency of using short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, as selfdefense weapons. The interdisciplinary approach made it possible to combine the results of legal and other humanitarian studies. In particular, the achievements of branches of legal sciences of Russian law are brought together: administrative law, theory and history of law, criminology and criminal studies, sociology of law. In conclusion, the paper provides the results of a theoretical study with due regard to the historical, delictological and sociological context of the problem. The author substantiates the necessity of changing the legal foundations of state policy in the field of trafficking in self-defense weapons and gives appropriate proposals.

Perpetrator characteristics and firearm use in pediatric homicides: Supplementary Homicide Reports - United States, 1976 to 2020

BackgroundDescribe trends in perpetrator characteristics and firearm use in pediatric homicides across the United States.MethodsMultiply-imputed data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 1976–2020 Supplementary Homicide Reports were used to estimate perpetrator characteristics (sex, age, and relationship to victim) and firearm use in pediatric homicides. Descriptive analyses were stratified by victim age group, sex, race, and five-year time periods.ResultsFamily members were the most common perpetrator of infant and toddler (ages 0–4) and child (ages 5–12) homicides, whereas acquaintances accounted for the majority of adolescent (ages 13–19) homicides. Perpetrator characteristics vary across victim sex and race, particularly among adolescents. Despite overall stability, there were changes in perpetrator characteristics from 1976 to 2020. There was a sustained increase in the proportion of homicides committed with a firearm. In 2016–2020, the proportion of firearm-involved homicides was an all-time high for infant and toddler (14.8%), child (53.1%), and adolescent victims (88.5%).ConclusionsPolicy interventions that improve family stability and well-being may be most effective at preventing infant, toddler, and child homicides, whereas programs that target peer and community relationships, as well as policies that focus on firearm access, may be more crucial for preventing adolescent homicides.

Анализ и оптимизация нормативно-правовой базы в области применения огнестрельного оружия сотрудниками полиции

The article analyzes the provisions of the key act in this area — the Federal Law “On Police”, concerning the grounds and procedure for the use of firearms by police officers, with a parallel appeal to criminal law norms regulating the circumstances, the identification of which levels the criminal nature of the act. Based on the practice of law enforcement, it is concluded that the key problem in this area is the assessment of the legality of the actions of a police officer when using firearms. Recommendations are proposed for improving and specifying the regulatory regulation of the conditions and procedure for the use of firearms by employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation to give the missing certainty and clarity.

FORENSIC EVALUATION OF SELF-INFLICTED SUICIDES WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS

Suicide is a common cause of premature death and a serious social problem. The use of firearms for suicide is quite common. The infliction of multiple self-inflicted wounds, including a fatal one, is rare among suicides, but it is possible and requires careful investigation. Aim To provide a forensic assessment of the possibility of suicide by multiple gunshot wounds. Methods. Archival material from the Kyiv City Clinical Bureau of Forensic Medicine and the Zhytomyr Regional Bureau of Forensic Medicine (2 "medical examination reports") was used. The objects of the study were: gunshot wounds on the head (wounds, wound channels), elastic bullets up to 9 mm cartridges and 9 mm bullets for pistol "Makarov", shot products, pistol "Makarov-MP 79" converted to shoot elastic bullets. Their characteristics were examined visually and under the stereo microscope. The detection of shot soot layers on skin flaps and gunsmith's grease was carried out in infrared and ultraviolet rays. The study of the elemental composition of shot products in objects of biological and non-biological origin was carried out using the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer "M4 TORNADO". Standard methods of variational statistics were used in the study. Results. The forensic examination of the entry and exit wounds and wounds on the head of the corpses of persons who died as a result of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, as well as of the bullets and weapons that caused bodily injuries, confirmed the possibility of committing suicide by firing double shots from pistols to shoot bullets of the so-called "non-lethal type": elastic bullets up to 9 mm cartridges and 9 mm bullets for pistol "Makarov". It was established that in case No 1 the first injury was non-fatal and the second was fatal, accompanied by damage to the skull and brain. In case No. 2, the first wound was fatal and the second was non-fatal, as it damaged only the soft tissues of the head without damaging the bones of the skull and brain. The wounds were caused by automatic shots due to the poor technical condition of the weapon, i.e. partial damage and wear of the trigger mechanism and the pistol sear. This was facilitated by a one-time partial self-destruction of the weapon, followed by the wedging of the next cartridge with an elastic bullet in the lower part of the barrel. Conclusion. Thus, the cases of double head injuries caused by shots from firearms (pistols) for shooting bullets of the so-called "non-lethal type" (elastic bullets up to 9 mm cartridges and 9 mm bullets for pistol "Makarov") serve as evidence of suicide. In case No. 1, one of the wounds was not fatal, as the wound channel began with an entrance hole in the lower half of the right temporal region, continued on the right through the right mastoid process and the soft tissues of the neck, and ended in the middle with an exit wound in the back of the neck. This wound was the first inflicted. The second wound was final and fatal, as there was damage to the skull and brain, as evidenced by the wound channel which passed through the right temporal cyst, the brain and its membranes, the left occipital bone, and ended with the exit wound in the left occipital region. It was the second in order of entry. In case 2, the first wound was fatal, resulting in damage to the bones of the skull and brain and the presence of an elastic ball in the substance of the brain. The second wound was non-fatal and tangential, injuring only the soft tissues of the head without damaging the bones of the skull and brain. It occurred as a result of automatic (independent) shots due to the poor technical condition of the weapon, namely partial damage and wear of the trigger mechanism and the pistol sear. This was facilitated by a one-time partial self-destruction of the weapon, followed by the wedging of the next cartridge with an elastic bullet in the lower part of the barrel.