NCJ Number
57609
Journal
Accident Analysis and Prevention Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977) Pages: 177-182
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG GUNSHOT FATALITIES, TYPE OF GUN INVOLVED, AND SURROUNDING SOCIAL SITUATION WERE INVESTIGATED THROUGH ANALYSIS OF MICHIGAN DEATH AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF VICTIMS FROM 1970-1975.
Abstract
ALL DEATH CERTIFICATES OF VICTIMS AND 77 PERCENT OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 WERE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS AND EACH DEATH WAS CLASSIFIED AS URBAN OR RURAL. FATHER'S OCCUPATION AND MOTHER'S EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WERE SELECTED TO INDICATE SOCIAL STATUS, AND INFORMATION ON GUNSHOT WOUND AND THE SITUATION SURROUNDING THE DEATH WERE GLEANED FROM THESE AND POLICE RECORDS. RESULTS OF ANALYSIS SUGGEST THAT BLACKS ARE HEAVILY OVERREPRESENTED IN THE MORTALITY DATA (30 PERCENT AS COMPARED TO THEIR 12.8-PERCENT REPRESENTATION IN THE MICHIGAN POPULATION). WHEN THE STUDY SAMPLE WAS CLASSIFIED INTO THREE GROUPS--URBAN WHITES, RURAL WHITES, AND URBAN BLACKS--ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE GUNSHOT DEATH RATE CLEARLY RELATES TO SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL REGARDLESS OF POPULATION DENSITY. URBAN WHITES, THE ONLY GROUP THAT IS NOT PREDOMINANTLY OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, HAVE THE LOWEST DEATH RATE. THE RURAL WHITES HAVE A DEATH RATE HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE URBAN WHITES BUT LOWER THAN THAT OF URBAN BLACKS, WHO HAVE THE LOWEST SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THESE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT POVERTY RATHER THAN RACIAL FACTORS OR POPULATION DENSITY IS THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR IN GUNSHOT DEATH IN CHILDREN. POLICE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE GUNS INVOLVED APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR SELF-PROTECTION RATHER THAN FOR HUNTING, TARGET SHOOTING, OR CRIMINAL PURPOSES. STUDY DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)