Articles tagged with Firearms
A study analyzing data from 35,000 retailers found that public mass shootings lead to a 3.5-5.5% increase in weekly alcohol sales for at least two years. The authors suggest whole-community approaches to address the trauma of mass shootings and its impact on alcohol consumption.
A study by New York University researchers found that public policies addressing economic security, alcohol consumption, and safety restrictions can effectively prevent suicide deaths in the US. Policies with strong evidence include those improving economic security, limiting access to alcohol, and restricting lethal means.
US youths experience disparities in firearm and motor vehicle crash fatality rates across different age groups, sexes, races, and ethnicities. A multipronged approach is necessary to address these leading causes of death, focusing on individual, community, and policy levels for high-risk groups.
A new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that socioeconomic status and education level are associated with lower odds of children receiving CPR and surviving after experiencing a cardiac arrest. The study analyzed 21,137 data entries across 54 states and territories in the United States.
A nationwide study found that students are significantly less likely to feel safe at school than staff and parents, with high school students being the most pessimistic about a threat occurring. Students were also the most likely to believe an attack would happen in each scenario, highlighting barriers to reporting threats.
A major US study found that around a third of Chicago residents carry concealed firearms by middle age, with differences in gun carrying between men and women. Gun carrying in adolescence often occurs in response to direct experiences of violence, while adults are more likely to carry due to perceived threats to public safety.
A new long-term study of gun usage found that most gun carriers began to carry in adulthood, not adolescence. Adult-onset carriers were more persistent in their carrying and had a different pattern of exposure to violence, whereas adolescent-onset carriers were associated with direct exposure to gun violence.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found a significant association between adolescent suicidal behavior and externalizing behaviors, as well as violence exposure. The study assessed the impact of state-level access to firearms on suicide rates among U.S. high school students.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds significant associations between suicidal behavior and externalizing behaviors, as well as violence exposure among US high school students. The study's authors suggest that stronger firearm protections are needed to protect youth health.
A recent special issue of Criminology & Public Policy explores the impact of legislative policies, criminal justice practices, and community-based efforts on gun violence. The studies featured in this issue aim to provide timely solutions to addressing this significant concern in the United States.
A survey of 1,000 Illinois parents found that over 60% had never asked about firearms in a friend's home before allowing their child to visit. This highlights the need for parents to discuss firearm safety with other caregivers, similar to asking about supervision during playdates.
The University of Michigan School of Public Health and Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention will evaluate a community-led, school-based secure firearm storage campaign in Michigan. The study aims to assess the impact on attitudes, norms, and behaviors among adults and prevent adolescent firearm violence.
A study by Washington State University found that rural adolescents in Washington state generally engage in pro-social firearm-related behaviors, such as hunting and recreation. The study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative research to understand rural youths' interactions with firearms and their perceptions of firearm-related s...
A study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference found that Colorado caregivers with children in the home significantly underestimated the risk of firearm-related suicide. The research also highlighted a lack of awareness about preventing suicide, particularly among caregivers living in households with firearms.
Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics found a four-fold increase in opioid poisoning cases among children under 2 years old, with fentanyl being the leading cause. Non-Hispanic Black children were particularly affected, experiencing an 11-fold increase in overdose cases between 2019 and 2023.
According to a survey of parents of children hospitalized for suicidal ideation or attempt, caregivers are receptive to firearm safe storage counseling and free firearm locks. However, 19% of firearm-owning families reported not storing their firearms securely.
Research found that firearm injuries result in life-saving procedures, major surgeries and prolonged hospital stays compared to other traumas. The study also showed significant health care costs and disparities in injury rates among Black patients and those from lower-income quartiles.
A new study analyzing 44 years of FBI data reveals that family members are the most common perpetrators of infant and child homicides in the US. The research found a sustained increase in firearm-related homicides among children and adolescents, with Black pediatric victims experiencing disproportionate burdens.
Researchers surveyed 870 parents on firearm safety and storage habits, finding that teaching children how to handle firearms increases the risk of storing them unsafely. Meanwhile, proper firearm handling education can lead to increased risks when combined with hands-on practice.
A recent study by OHSU researchers reveals that the US has a higher rate of firearm deaths compared to other countries with similar sociodemographic profiles. The study found that despite comparable mental health disorder rates, US firearm death rates are 20 times greater than those in other countries.
Parents who practice proper firearm handling and teach their children to shoot are more likely to store firearms unlocked and loaded, highlighting a potential association between responsible behavior and decreased risk of injury. This study underscores the importance of secure storage practices in reducing firearm-related risks.
A study found that pediatricians were more likely to deliver a secure gun storage program when receiving a 'nudge' or extra staff support, resulting in a significant increase from 2% to 49% of doctors. The findings suggest that even minimal resources can be effective in promoting this critical conversation.
A first-of-its-kind study published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas found that gun-free zones have a preventive effect and do not attract active shooters. Researchers matched 150 places with shootings to 150 control places without shootings, finding that active shootings were 62.5% less likely to occur in gun-free establishments.
A recent study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that Florida's red flag gun law was associated with an 11 percent reduction in firearm homicide rates from 2019 to 2021. The study used augmented synthetic control methods and controlled for state-level sociodemographic and economic covariates.
The study found a significant reduction in firearm homicide mortality after the implementation of Florida's red flag law, with an 11% rate decrease. However, no differences were observed in nonfirearm homicide rates, suicide rates, or nonfirearm suicide rates.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found a significant association between cumulative adverse childhood experiences and adult household firearm ownership. Individuals with a history of abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction were more likely to own firearms as adults, possibly due to heightened vulnerability to physical violence.
Researchers from Penn Medicine found that nonfatal firearm injuries were 10 times more frequent among Black Americans than White individuals in 2019 and 2020. The highest rate of firearm injuries was observed among Black boys and men aged 15-34, with a rate of 245.1 per 100,000 people per year.
A cross-sectional study found that universal background checks alone are ineffective in reducing firearm homicide rates, but permit requirements significantly lower these rates. Combining both measures could be an effective strategy to reduce firearm-related fatalities.
A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that states with gun permit laws see firearm homicide rates 18% lower than those with universal background check policies alone. Gun permits are associated with decreases in firearm fatalities due to their ability to record lower-level crimes and update criminal databases more consistently.
A recent comparative effectiveness study found that restrictive firearm policies significantly lower firearm mortality. The study's findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize comprehensive regulation over individual policy changes.
A cross-sectional study found that 60% of youth suicide decedents lacked a preceding mental health diagnosis, with racial and ethnic minorities having lower odds of diagnosis. The study highlights the need for equitable mental health identification and lethal means counseling to prevent youth suicide.
The study found that 79% of gun owners cited protection as the primary reason for owning a firearm, with increasing numbers of women and minority ethnic backgrounds citing this reason. Gun ownership has become predominantly motivated by protection, appealing to demographics beyond traditional firearm owners.
Research finds more than 12,000 lives lost to unintentional gun deaths between 2001 and 2021 across US states. Poverty, rural residency, non-White ethnicity, and firearms ownership are associated with higher rates of such incidents.
A new study examining firearm homicide deaths from 2018 to 2022 found that Black 15- to 24-year-olds were disproportionately affected, with a rate of 14 times higher than White individuals. The spike in homicides in 2020 was largely due to firearm injuries, with the largest increases occurring among Black men between 10 and 44 years old.
A study from Duke University Medical Center found that certain state gun laws are associated with decreased suicide rates among children under 18, but have little influence on homicide rates. The researchers called for more laws and controlled access to guns to reduce child deaths.
Researchers discovered that state firearm access laws significantly reduced firearm suicides among young adults. Implementing permit to purchase laws was associated with a 39% decrease in firearm suicides and a 14% decrease in overall suicide rates among this age group.
A new study from Ohio State University found that virtual reality technology can accurately record shooting performance and track individuals' progress over time. The research team used the VirTra V-100 simulator to measure 21 relevant variables, including accuracy, decision-making, and reaction time.
A Rutgers University study found that many firearm owners lack knowledge about proper cable lock installation, with only 98.3% correctly identifying correct installation on a rifle. The study suggests that education and awareness are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of cable locks in securing firearms.
A study found that mass incarceration contributes to social disorganization and increased firearm homicides among Black communities in Chicago. Targeted policies addressing mass incarceration may help reduce urban firearm violence.
A new study from Boston University finds that increased Black incarceration rates contribute to rising firearm violence in Black communities. The research highlights the impact of mass incarceration on social disorganization and single-parent households, exacerbating violence in already vulnerable populations.
US college student mental health challenges rose with a notable increase in PTSD and acute stress disorder diagnoses. Factors contributing to this rise include pandemic-related stressors and traumatic events.
A Rutgers Health study examines the role of racially coded language in labeling Black men who experienced a firearm-related injury. The researchers found that adopting a survivor identity may facilitate resilience and post-traumatic growth, while internalizing a victim identity could exacerbate trauma reactions.
Black individuals ages 15 to 24 are disproportionately represented in firearm homicide deaths before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings highlight social and structural conditions contributing to racial disparities in firearm homicides.
New studies published in Preventive Medicine Reports and BMC Public Health found that segments about community firearm violence on local television news are often demographically and geographically unrepresentative. They also frequently contain harmful elements, such as blame of victims or reinforcement of racist stereotypes, which can...
A recent study reveals significant racial and ethnic disparities in all-cause and cause-specific mortality among US youth. The findings highlight a disproportionate burden of mortality among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black youth, particularly those involving firearms.
New research from Boston Children's Hospital found a significant correlation between historic redlining and present-day non-suicide firearm fatalities. Areas graded as 'hazardous' in the 1930s have nearly six times more non-suicide firearm fatalities today compared to areas graded 'best'.
An observational study of over 700,000 patients found that female physicians treated male and female patients with lower mortality and readmission rates. The effect was particularly pronounced in female patients treated by female physicians, possibly due to patient-centered communication and reduced sociocultural taboos.
A recent survey study of 12,000 participants found that firearm owners were only moderately more supportive of political violence than nonowners. Firearm owners who always carried firearms in public were more likely to support and engage in political violence, highlighting the need for risk-based prevention efforts.
A new study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that Interstate 95 is a key connection for moving guns up and down the East Coast. The researchers identified previously unidentified 'Iron Pipelines' throughout the country, highlighting the complexity of gun traffic along this corridor.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health reveals that nearly half of Las Vegas concertgoers who survived the 2017 mass shooting experienced major depressive episodes within the past year. The study also found that over 63% of survivors reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the same time period.
A new study analyzing California gun data found that guns lost or stolen are three times more likely to be used in a crime, while cheap, semiautomatic, and large caliber handguns are also at higher risk. The study suggests securing firearms from theft or loss should be a primary focus for preventing firearm-related crimes.
Research highlights new findings on social vulnerability and survivorship after colorectal cancer resection, as well as disparities in kidney recovery among Black donors. Additionally, studies reveal cost savings from implementing quality interventions and explore eligibility for transplants in obese patients with end-stage renal disease.
A new study reveals that gun manufacturers have shifted their marketing strategy to appeal to women, portraying them as responsible and capable gun owners. The study found that the 'serious student' framing became popular between 2016 and 2020, depicting armed American women as pursuing expertise with firearms through focused training.
A study published by the American College of Surgeons found that permitless open carry laws in states without such restrictions had a significantly higher rate of firearm-related deaths and total suicides. The researchers suggested that the ease of access to firearms under these laws may be responsible for the increase in suicide rates.
A new study quantifies a dramatic rise in school shootings and related fatalities over the past 53 years. The study found that the likelihood of children being a school shooting victim quadrupled between 1970 and 2022, highlighting the need for preventative measures.
A substantial percentage of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black US adults reported living with loaded and unlocked firearms, frequent carry outside the home, and gun violence exposure. This highlights the need for nuanced public health campaigns and policies addressing racial disparities and changing legal frameworks.
A Rutgers Health study found that nearly 1 in 3 Black adults and half of American Indian/Alaskan Native adults keep firearms at home, with most using them for personal protection. Gun violence exposure is also common, with over 40% reporting knowing someone who has been shot or being threatened with a firearm.
A Rutgers Health study found that military service members view law enforcement officers, military service members, and veterans as the most credible sources to discuss secure firearm storage for suicide prevention. The study suggests that leveraging these sources can help increase secure storage among this population.
New research estimates the economic toll of youth violence in the US, revealing that homicides and nonfatal assaults among young people cost $122 billion. The study highlights the importance of developing programs to address risk factors and prevent youth violence.
A new study led by Brown University researchers found an association between household firearm ownership and elevated lead levels in children's blood in 44 states. The study suggests that firearm-related lead ammunition use is a significant source of lead exposure in the US, disproportionately affecting children.