TRENDS IN FATAL FIREARM-RELATED INJURIES, UNITED-STATES, 1962-1993

Objective: Our objective was to review historical trends in U.S. fatal firearm-related injuries for the years 1962-1993. Methods: Using mort ality data from the National Center for Health Statistics and populati on estimates projected from census data, we calculated national age-ad justed mortality rates and examined trends over the 32-year period. Da ta were also examined by type of firearm-related death (unintentional, suicide, homicide, legal intervention, and undetermined intention), r ace, gender, and age group. Results: During the 32-year period, the to tal number of firearm-related deaths increased by 137%, from 16,720 in 1962 to 39,595 in 1993. Suicide and homicide were responsible for mos t firearm fatalities. Rates for both firearm suicides and firearm homi cides increased over time, while rates for unintentional, legal interv ention, and undetermined intention decreased. The highest rates and wi dest variation in total firearm-related mortality occurred among Afric an-American men (35.2/100,000 to 84.5/100,000). Persons 15-19, 20-24, and greater than or equal to 75 years of age experienced the largest c hanges in rates during recent years; total firearm mortality was highe r for the younger age groups (15-19, 20-24) during 1990 through 1933 t han any other time during the 32-year period. Conclusions: These surve illance data help characterize trends over time and the magnitude of f irearm-related mortality and identify groups at risk. However, further efforts to improve our understanding of firearm-related deaths and in juries, such as expansion of current surveillance to include informati on about morbidity associated with firearms and additional epidemiolog ic research to identify modifiable individual and societal risk factor s, are necessary.