Articles tagged with Gun Violence
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found a 20% decline in gun injuries nationwide during the dates of the National Rifle Association's annual convention. The decrease is attributed to a brief period of gun abstinence and the well-trained gun owners attending the meetings.
A randomized controlled study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that restoring vacant urban land significantly reduced crime, including gun violence, and increased feelings of safety among residents. The approach has been shown to be quick, inexpensive, and scalable.
A national survey found that more than half of US gun owners do not safely store their guns, with 54% reporting not storing all firearms securely. Safe storage practices are linked to reduced risks of unauthorized access or use.
A new study examined prosecutions in Pennsylvania and Maryland following changes in firearm transfer laws, finding increased prosecutions after tougher sentencing in Pennsylvania but decreased prosecutions in Maryland after a court decision redefined private firearm transfers. The study highlights the importance of proper implementatio...
A new study published in Pediatrics reveals a significant increase in non-powder gun-related eye injuries among US children over a 23-year period. The rate of such injuries rose nearly 170%, accounting for 11% of all eye injuries and almost half of hospitalizations during this time.
Researchers identified three types of risk-mitigation strategies: readiness practices (routines), simulated scenario practices (target shooting and training), and mentally-rehearsed scenarios. These efforts decrease some risk but cannot fully prepare individuals for actual self-defense situations, which can pose unexpected risks.
A new study estimates that 60 additional accidental deaths related to firearms occurred after the Sandy Hook shooting, including 20 among children and 40 among adults. Exposure to guns increased following the tragedy, leading to a spike in accidental firearm-related deaths.
A new Stanford study analyzes recent research on the causes of gun violence in the United States, finding a link between right-to-carry laws and higher violent crime rates. The study suggests that lifting restrictions on concealed carry guns increases violent crime, while laws restricting gun ownership for people convicted of domestic ...
Gun violence in US cities like Washington D.C. shows an endemic pattern, with clustering in certain neighborhoods rather than spreading rapidly. Researchers recommend place-based interventions targeting neighborhood features to reduce crime rates.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that gun-related deaths and injuries in California spiked after Nevada gun shows. The study, which analyzed data from 2005 to 2013, showed a nearly 70% increase in firearm injury rates in California near Nevada gun shows compared to regions without such exposure.
The American College of Physicians urges physicians to make a public commitment to talk to their patients about firearms and counsel them on safe firearm behaviors. Physicians who commit to this action can find resources and information in the growing literature.
A BU researcher received a three-year award to investigate factors associated with non-fatal firearm injuries across different regions of the US. The goal is to understand how regional differences impact gun injury risk, ultimately aiming to tailor prevention efforts to specific areas.
A study found that Delaware's expansion of comprehensive background check policies to include private-party sales resulted in a 25% increase in handgun background checks and a 34% increase for long guns. In contrast, Washington and Colorado experienced no overall change in background checks despite enacting similar policies.
Three people were treated for serious eye injuries after being shot with Nerf guns, including a child who developed swelling in the cornea and retina. Doctors urge parents to consider protective eyewear when allowing children to play with these guns.
A new study found that states with laws requiring people at high risk of committing intimate partner abuse to relinquish firearms have significantly lower rates of intimate partner homicide and firearm-specific IPH. The study suggests that effective enforcement procedures are key to the law's impact.
The Asking Saves Kids (ASK) campaign has been shown to increase caregivers' comfort level in asking about guns in a home where their child plays. A study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference found that after ASK education, 85% of caregivers felt comfortable asking about guns, up from only 44% before.
A study by Oregon State University found that gun owners are more likely to engage in gun safety behaviors when given culturally tailored suicide prevention messages. The research suggests that messaging should respect the values and rights of gun owners, rather than using language that may inadvertently promote anti-firearm bias. Cult...
A study found that gun violence prevention groups promote a balance between individual rights and responsibilities, advocating for universal background checks, restrictive firearms policies, and cultural changes. These efforts have led to policy changes, company bans on open carrying, and increased public support.
A study from the University of Washington found that only about three in five US firearm owners have received formal gun training, with notable gaps in content, particularly on warning signs of suicide. The lack of standardization and education on suicide prevention in firearm trainings has significant implications for public health.
A new study from Duke University and the University of California, Davis, found no marked improvement in the survival rate of U.S. gunshot victims over the past decade. The researchers analyzed data from 2003 to 2012 and discovered problems with data collection and coding, leading to an incorrect assumption of a decline in fatality rates.
A new study found that more lethal weapons are being manufactured and sold for self-defense purposes, rather than recreational use. The study analyzed data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and found a significant increase in the production of high-caliber pistols and rifles between 2004 and 2015.
A study by Stroebe et al. found that fear of crime alone doesn't explain the need for personal protection; a general sense of threat about the world's danger also plays a role. Conservative political beliefs are stronger predictors than past experience with crime victimization.
A five-year national study found that regions with stronger gun laws had significantly fewer firearm-related pediatric emergency department visits. The study suggests an association between regional gun laws and firearm-related injuries in children, with stricter laws linked to lower incidence rates.
New research presents findings that adolescents with mental health issues or past suicide attempts are more likely to have easy access to firearms, either in their own home or a friend's. This increases the risk of violent behavior and accidental death by guns.
After two high-profile mass shootings, California's handgun sales spiked by 53% and 85% in the following weeks. The study found that these spikes were driven by increased concern over personal security, with many individuals motivated to acquire firearms for self-protection.
A new study finds gunshot wounds in Miami-Dade County cluster in poor, black neighborhoods, with a fatality rate of 15.4%. The researchers call for urgent community engagement and prevention strategies to reduce firearm violence.
A recent study by Arizona State University professors found no evidence of the Ferguson effect in Chicago. However, they did discover a strong association between firearms availability and gun violence, supporting Former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton's argument.
A study published in CMAJ found that Canadian-born children and youth are at a higher risk of unintentional gun injury compared to immigrant children and youth. The study identified certain subgroups of immigrants as being at higher risk of assault-related injury, particularly those from Africa and Central America.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that racial disparities in firearm injuries are more strongly associated with race than neighborhood income levels. The researchers argue that establishing a national database on gun violence incidents is crucial to understanding and addressing this public health problem.
The study found that when a gun is used in domestic disputes, women are less likely to incur injury but substantially more likely to be frightened. This highlights the coercive control aspect of using a gun to intimidate and maintain power dynamics.
A Northwestern University study of 25 years of data reveals a persistent connection between economic insecurity and the rate of gun violence at US schools. The researchers found that periods of heightened unemployment are associated with an increased risk of school shootings.
Researchers from top universities issue an agenda for action on gun safety, promoting discourse around gun safety rather than control. They propose collaborations with opponents, engaging private industry in evidence-based initiatives to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths.
New research reveals that heartbeat signals can increase racial biases when facing a potential threat, leading to misperceptions of harmless objects as weapons. This study has important implications for tackling police shootings and reducing tragedies caused by racial bias.
Research reveals that top-grossing PG-13 movies have more frequent and graphic gun violence than comparable R-rated films, with little attention to consequences. The study suggests that Hollywood prioritizes action-oriented films over responsible portrayals of gun violence, raising concerns about its impact on children.
The latest collection of articles in JAMA Internal Medicine explores firearm violence in urban areas, with studies focusing on adolescent firearm homicides and social contagion through networks. The research aims to reduce the disproportionate impact of firearm violence on minority populations.
A study found gun violence research receives significantly less funding and publication volume than other leading causes of death, including sepsis and motor vehicle accidents. This disparity affects vulnerable communities disproportionately.
Research found that US school shootings were lower in states with mandatory background checks on gun purchases and higher spending on mental health services and public education. The study analyzed media coverage of school shootings between 2013-2015, finding a link between state-level factors and the frequency of these incidents.
Researchers found that for every 10-20 instances of temporary gun seizures, one suicide was prevented. The study suggests that risk-based gun removal laws could help identify people at increased risk of violence but without a history of violence.
A new study linked Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' self-defense law to a 24% increase in homicide rates and 31% rise in firearm-related injuries from 2005-2014. The research suggests the law's extension of lethal force rights in public led to increased violence, particularly among young adults and white populations.
A new study by Boston University researchers indicates that citizens are likely to know a gun violence victim, highlighting the issue's prevalence in American society. The study used CDC data from 2013 and found that nearly all Americans have a 99.85% chance of knowing someone who has experienced gun violence.
Since gun law reform in 1996, Australia has seen an accelerating decline in intentional firearm deaths and an absence of fatal mass shootings. Key findings include a significant acceleration in the downward trend for firearm suicides and a non-significant acceleration in the downward trend in firearm homicides.
A new study analyzed the gun use, violent crime, and suicide rates of 81,704 people with serious mental illnesses in Florida. The research found that nearly four times the average suicide rate occurred among these individuals, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Experts recommend that physicians counsel patients about firearms as part of routine care, focusing on well-being and safety, especially for children. The review paper addresses common misconceptions and provides resources for clinicians and patients to address firearm-related injuries.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers found that three-strikes laws increase fatal and non-fatal assaults on officers by 33% and 62%, respectively. In contrast, permit-to-purchase handgun laws appear to protect law enforcement officers against handgun assaults, with Missouri's repeal associated with...
A review of 130 studies across 10 countries found that firearm-related laws led to declines in firearm homicide and suicide rates. Laws regulating background checks and storage also showed specific reductions in certain types of gun deaths.
The journal has devoted its first special issue to gun violence, with notable findings including household gun ownership increasing risk of gun suicide and statutes restricting DVROs reducing fatal intimate partner violence.
Gun violence claims thousands of lives in the US annually, with experts arguing that a public health approach is needed to address the issue. The 1997 funding freeze has hindered research into gun policies and safety, but experts propose steps such as tracking gun ownership and improving community training.
Researchers found that young Black boys' faces trigger thoughts of guns and violence, even at a young age. This bias affects automatic social cognition and can shape perceptions of Black Americans as hostile and violent.
Researchers observed a female orangutan being killed by another female, with a male recruited as a hired gun. Female-female aggression is rare, and the case defies typical patterns of joint coalitional killings.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health researchers found a substantial association between state-level firearm ownership rates and killings of women by guns. State gun ownership rates explain 40 percent of the variation in women's homicide victimization rates, compared to just 1.5 percent for men.
A survey of nearly 4,000 people found that 60% of Americans would buy a smart or childproof gun, debunking the argument that there is no market for such guns. The technology uses fingerprint or RFID verification to prevent unauthorized use.
A comprehensive review of youth gun violence highlights the need for a multifaceted approach, including strengthening families, reducing violent media effects, and improving school climates. The study also explores the potential use of online data mining to predict potential youth violence.
A new report by Ohio State University researchers highlights the similarities in prevention approaches for school rampage shootings and street violence, despite differences in demographics and risk factors. The study emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach to prevent youth violence, including strengthening families, reducing ac...
Research by AU School of Public Affairs professor Taryn Morrissey found that mothers with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were less likely to ensure car seat safety and have working smoke detectors. The study also linked households with gun ownership to increased risk of firearm-related injuries among children.
In Trinidad and Tobago, ballistic imaging technology was hindered by inefficient processes, backlogs, and delayed information transmission. The country's Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS) generated few hits due to database delays and insufficient evidence input.
A study found that more restrictive gun laws were associated with lower rates of youth gun carrying in the US. The analysis of state-level gun law scores and adult gun ownership levels revealed a 10-point increase in gun law score was linked to 9% lower odds of youth gun carrying.
A special issue of Preventive Medicine addresses firearm violence, highlighting its impact on public health and the need for increased funding. The article presents key findings on the relationship between alcohol abuse, gun ownership, self-defensive gun use, and criminal acquisition of firearms.
A new study found that the US had a disproportionate number of public mass shooters, with 31% of global incidents occurring on American soil. The study suggests that civilian firearm ownership rates are a strong predictor of a nation's number of public mass shooters.
A new study found that police officers serving in states with high private gun ownership are more than three times more likely to be killed on the job. States with higher gun ownership rates had a stronger relationship between public gun exposure and officer homicide rates.
Researchers found a significant decrease in serious crimes in areas around remediated buildings, including a 39% reduction in gun assaults. The study suggests that making buildings safer can improve health outcomes and reduce crime.