NCJ Number
145906
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1993) Pages: 1409-1421
Date Published
1993
Length
13 pages
Annotation
To determine the impact of the increased incidence of stolen firearms and confiscation of illegally possessed handguns on gunshot mortality in Sweden, this study analyzed all cases of firearm fatalities given medicolegal autopsies in the Stockholm area during 1980-81 and 1990-91.
Abstract
The number of firearm fatalities during the 2-year period increased from 50 to 65, with homicides and suicides contributing seven new cases each. Accidents and "not determined" cases composed only zero to two cases in each period. Suicides were four times as common as homicides in the former period and approximately three times as common in the latter period. There was a 70-percent increase in homicidal shootings, and the fatal use of illegal firearms increased from 50 percent to 93 percent. As expected, males dominate among perpetrators (96 percent) and among victims (85 percent). The suicide rate in the latter period was 18 percent above that in the former period. Illegal guns were used in 30 percent of the suicides in 1990-91, compared to 20 percent in 1980-81. The wounding pattern in suicides was similar to that reported in earlier studies. The study confirmed that more widespread access to illegal weapons correlates with a higher rate of gunshot fatalities; the perpetrator is likely to be male; suicidal shots are usually aimed at the head or precordium; and most gunshot suicides are committed with legally possessed firearms. 5 tables, 6 figures, and 13 references