Articles tagged with Gun Violence
Researchers found long guns were used more often in suicides by kids and teens than adults, particularly in rural counties. Rifles were also used during hunting season, increasing by 60%. Adopting safety measures for rifles or shotguns may prevent suicides.
A special issue of Criminology & Public Policy assesses trends in mass violence and evaluates the effectiveness of measures to prevent mass shootings. Research-based policy recommendations include limiting high-capacity firearms access and improving threat-detection systems.
A study by University of Arizona researcher Terrence Hill found that gun ownership is not associated with improved happiness or better sleep. Gun owners were more likely to be married, which was driving their reported happiness. However, a separate study on sleep disturbance showed no difference between gun owners and non-gun owners.
A new study found a significant increase in political TV ads referencing guns, with gun regulation messages growing by 369% and pro-gun rights ads decreasing by 45%. Gun policy has emerged as a key issue in candidates' campaign platforms, with most ads supporting the Second Amendment.
A study found that 40% of gun owners reported not locking all firearms, even in the presence of children, emphasizing the importance of safe storage devices. The study also showed that nearly 3,000 people attended public gun safety events and planned to use free safety devices within a week.
A survey study assessed Californians' opinions on two proposals: an amnesty program for high-capacity magazines and a five-year gun ban for repeat DUI offenders. The majority supported the first proposal, but were divided on the second.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that social determinants of health, such as income inequality and trust in institutions, are associated with higher gun homicide rates in the US. The study also showed that levels of social mobility and poverty are linked to neighborhood gun homicide rates.
Researchers propose frameworks to improve laws, civilian strategies, and police response in reducing violent crimes and gun violence. A study found that reducing law enforcement response time decreases civilian casualties by 10-15 percent.
A recent survey suggests that nearly one in four Californian adults lives in a household with a gun, with an estimated 7.3 million residents state-wide owning or living with someone who owns a firearm. This equates to a collective tally of 19.9 million firearms in the state.
Researchers studied gunshot injury patterns and found that patients with chest or abdominal wounds were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital. The study aimed to identify injury patterns and predict future outcomes for victims of gun violence.
A new study by Boston University School of Medicine found that deaths due to guns have increased since 2014, with years of life lost rising due to gun violence affecting younger people more, especially men and non-Hispanic black populations.
A new study by University of Utah Health finds that doctors are less likely to ask routine gun safety questions in the home after mass shootings. Pediatricians added questions to screenings, but frequency dropped following incidents.
A study of California firearm owners has identified five distinct patterns of gun ownership linked to varying levels of risk. The research found that different combinations of survey responses to questions about firearms, storage practices, and motivations are associated with higher or lower risks of injury and death.
A study by UC Davis researcher Rocco Pallin found that most Californians support healthcare providers talking about gun safety in exam rooms when there is a risk of firearm-related harm. The study suggests that patients may find these conversations most appropriate when specific risks are elevated, and providers should take a risk-base...
A new study published in Health Affairs found a 10% increase in behavioral health workforce jobs is associated with a 1.2% decrease in firearm suicide rates. The researchers suggest that investing in gun safety initiatives may be more effective in reducing suicides, highlighting the need for additional measures to curb gun-related deaths.
Three UC Davis studies examine strategies to reduce firearm-related injury and death, while a fourth study identifies five distinct types of firearm owners. Background checks are found to reduce violence among those prevented from owning firearms, but flawed policies contribute to ineffective results.
Gun owners report fewer phobias and victimization fears than non-gun owners, study by Florida State University researchers suggests. The study found exceptions for fears of animals and mugging, and implications for gun policy.
A national public opinion survey found strong support for over twenty gun violence prevention policies among Americans, including extreme risk protection orders and universal background checks. Gun owners and non-gun owners alike showed broad agreement on these measures.
A Northwestern University study found that the Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) program reduced gunshot victimization among participants by 3.2 percentage points, with spillover effects reducing victimization among their peers by 1.5 percentage points. These findings suggest that social networks can be leveraged to enhance gun violenc...
Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that both general and abdominal obesity were strongly associated with mortality among Mexican adults. The study, which followed over 115,000 adults for up to 14 years, also found that waist-to-hip ratio was a major risk factor for premature death.
A new Rutgers University study found a significant link between the concentration of federally licensed firearms dealers in urban counties and intimate partner homicide in the home, regardless of victim age or gender. The researchers suggest that easy access to legal guns in urban areas can increase the risk of intimate partner violence.
A new study by Duke and Northeastern universities reveals that sustained police efforts lead to higher arrest rates for gun murders compared to nonfatal shootings. The researchers found that persistence in investigating fatal cases results in more arrests due to increased resources and cooperation from witnesses.
A new study found that firearm ownership significantly increases the risk of intimate partner and family homicide, with a 13% increased incidence for each 10% increase in household gun ownership rates. The majority of domestic violence victims are women who are more likely to be killed if there is a gun in the household.
Researchers found a causal link between print news media coverage of U.S. gun control policy and increases in firearm acquisition, especially in states with lax gun laws. The study analyzed data on mass shootings, media coverage, and firearm background checks, revealing no significant links between other variables.
A new white paper from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research concludes that handgun licensing is more effective at reducing gun deaths than comprehensive background checks alone. States with licensing requirements have been shown to experience significant reductions in gun homicides and suicides, while comprehensive back...
A majority of current gun owners (almost four out of five) support the sale of both traditional and personalized guns through licensed dealers. However, only 18% are likely to purchase a personalized gun for themselves due to added costs. Personalized guns offer safety features to prevent unauthorized use, but their high cost may limit...
A new clinical guide aims to empower physicians to recognize patients' risk of firearm injury or death and discuss safe firearm practices. The guide, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, provides practical tools for screening, counseling, and interventions.
A randomized clinical trial found that children exposed to violent video games with guns were more likely to engage in dangerous behavior, such as pulling the trigger at themselves or others. Self-reported consumption of violent media was also a risk factor for this behavior.
A modeling study suggests that locking all household guns could prevent between 72-135 youth firearm fatalities and 235-323 nonfatal injuries. The study's results underscore the need for safe gun storage practices to motivate adults to securely store firearms.
A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) study found that U.S. pediatric residents have a significant amount of experience with treating gun injuries, even during early stages of training. The study also revealed strong support for pediatricians' role in counseling families and advocating for public policies to reduce gun injury.
A new study found that personal gun access is associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and perceiving school as unsafe. In contrast, attending a school with common gun access is linked to lower odds of perceiving school as unsafe. The findings suggest complex associations between gun access and adolescent health.
Research published in Deviant Behavior found that the dark web is a hub for anonymous handgun sales, with 64% of products advertised being handguns. The study sheds light on a niche market where buyers can circumvent stricter gun laws, highlighting the need for further investigations and potential regulation.
Researchers found that mass shootings with extensive media coverage were associated with increases in handgun purchases, while high-fatality shootings led to decreases in handgun sales. Overall, the study suggests a possible connection between gun violence and public opinion on gun purchases.
Research found that adopting stricter state gun laws is associated with reduced rates of weapon carrying and perceived threats among students. This study highlights the need for stronger gun control policies to improve school safety.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveals that states with strict gun laws experience higher homicide rates when neighboring states have more lenient laws. The research suggests that gun trafficking across state lines plays a significant role in this relationship.
A new study found that states with more permissive gun laws and greater gun ownership have higher rates of mass shootings. On average, more permissive states and states with higher gun ownership rates appeared to have more mass shootings.
Research reveals that US states with more relaxed gun control laws and higher gun ownership rates experience higher rates of mass shootings. The gap between permissive and restrictive states has widened in recent years, with rates falling in restrictive states and rising in permissive ones.
The report identifies weaknesses in current Illinois law and recommends strengthening the state's gun purchaser licensing system, expanding firearm prohibitions for domestic abusers, and providing more funding for local initiatives. These policies aim to reduce gun violence and homicides in Illinois.
A new study by researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that individuals with access to guns were approximately 18 times more likely to have threatened someone with a gun, while most mental health symptoms were unrelated to gun violence. Limiting access to guns is key to reducing gun violence.
A recent study found that 10% of firearm injury survivors will be readmitted to the hospital within 90 days, highlighting a significant burden of morbidity. The researchers also discovered a 30% increased risk of readmission among those with firearm injuries compared to occupant motor vehicle injury patients.
A study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association notes that elderly gun owners with dementia are at a high risk of suicide and accidental shootings. The authors argue that public policy, such as red flag laws, can help mitigate this risk by removing firearms from patients with cognitive impairment.
Physicians say firearms are within their lane, disagreeing with NRA's stance on gun violence prevention. The American College of Physicians is collaborating with the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine to provide funding for research and develop practice recommendations on firearm injury prevention.
A narrative inquiry study found that victims of urban gun violence experience everyday violence as a common occurrence, leading to feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness. The study identified four themes: prevailing nature of everyday violence, feeling abandoned by societal institutions, living in a context of reactive violence, an...
The study found that communities with lower rates of social interactions, higher income inequality, and a shortage of mental health professionals are more likely to experience mass shootings. These communities also tend to have higher housing costs and lower levels of leisure-time physical activity.
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found a link between state-level gun ownership and police shooting deaths, with the strongest association among armed victims. The rate of fatal police shootings was 3.6 times higher in states with high gun prevalence.
A study by University of Kansas professors found that mass shootings create a brief window of opportunity for policymakers to pass gun law reforms, with anxious people supporting changes in ideology and politics. However, this effect is short-lived as the public's emotional response to anxiety changes how they think about politics.
The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma recommends stricter regulations on semi-automatic rifle sales, booster accessories and high-volume ammunition to reduce firearm-related injuries. The AAST aims to address the complex issue of gun violence through research, innovation, technology and cooperation.
An observational study found that the caliber of a firearm is associated with the likelihood of death from a gunshot, with medium- and large-caliber guns increasing the odds of fatality. The study analyzed data on 367 cases, including 183 fatal and 184 non-fatal shootings.
A national public opinion survey finds widespread agreement on key gun policies, with minimal gaps in support between gun owners and non-gun owners. The majority of respondents (85.3% of gun owners and 88.7% of non-gun owners) support universal background checks.
Rutgers University researchers found that gun safety programs for children do not prevent them from handling firearms in real-world scenarios. The studies reviewed by the researchers showed that even children who initially followed rules after training did not use their safety skills weeks later when faced with a nonfunctional gun.
A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that parents think PG-13 movies with unjustified gun violence are more suitable for 16-year-olds than those with justified violence. Parents also reported becoming desensitized to violence when repeatedly exposed to it, but this was more pronounced in scenes without justification.
Research highlights gun suicides disproportionately affect older, married white men experiencing declining health. Financial stressors also play a role in younger age groups. Tailored interventions and gun ownership registry measures may help reduce mortality associated with gun suicides.
Researchers analyzed data on intimate partner homicide in North Carolina between 2004-2013. They found that guns were the primary weapon in 7 out of 10 cases, leading to an average of 50% more deaths compared to similar crimes committed with other weapons.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that more high school students in Chicago reported carrying guns between 2007 and 2013 compared to those in New York and Los Angeles. The study found a strong correlation between gun carrying and exposure to violence risk factors, suggesting a link to the city's spike in gun violence in 2016.
A new study reveals a rapid rise in mass school shootings in the US over the past 18 years, with 66 people killed and 81 injured since the start of the 21st century. The authors call for policy and legislative actions to address the alarming trend, including expanded background checks and mental health support.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine analysis shows that trauma patients are four times more likely to die from gunshot wounds and nearly nine times more likely to die from stab wounds before getting to a trauma center. The increased prehospital mortality suggests that violence is intensifying.
A study of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that most Americans have suboptimal cardiovascular health. The study also revealed racial disparities in cardiovascular health, with rates of optimal health remaining below 40% for whites, 25% for Mexican Americans, and 15% for African Americans.
New research published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that gun laws in Australia stopped mass shootings altogether between 1996 and 2018, with no incidents reported during this period.
A recent study by University of Delaware professors found that while interventions for stigma-based bullying have increased, their implementation and evaluation need improvement. The researchers suggest increasing the capacity of school health professionals to address LGBTQ bullying and developing strategies to reduce stereotypes and p...
A two-year study by RAND Corporation found persuasive evidence for child access prevention laws and moderate evidence for background checks and mental illness-related prohibitions. The study identified gaps in evidence for most gun laws, but suggests areas for compromise and increased funding for gun research.