Firearms

Suicide

According to the CDC's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) (2005), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 14 years, the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24 years, and the second leading cause for individuals aged 25 to 34 years, with nearly half of the suicides among 25to 34-year-olds being completed with a firearm. Most firearm suicides by youth occur at home, and the presence of a firearm in the home is associated with an increased risk of firearm suicide. The use of a firearm for a suicide attempt results in death approximately 80% of the time.

Firearm suicide is most prevalent among males, particularly white males. However, an exception to this is among males aged 20 to 29 years. In this group, the rate of firearm suicide is highest for black males.

Homicide

Homicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 14 years, the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24 years, and the third leading cause for individuals aged 25 to 34 years, with approximately 80% of the homicides among 25to 34-year-olds being completed with a firearm (CDC/WISQARS, 2005).

Homicide caused by firearm is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, males, and blacks (see Figures 1 and 2). Homicide, driven primarily from death due to a firearm, grew to epidemic proportions in the late 1980s through the early to mid1990s in the United States. Since the early to mid1990s, homicide due to firearm has declined.

However, from 1999 through 2003, firearm homicides have stabilized, showing, if anything, a slight increase in the early 2000s. Furthermore, the changes in firearm homicides have not affected all demographic groups in the same way. For example, from 1999 to 2001, the 10to 14-year-old males and females in each CDC race category showed a decline [Page 391]Years in firearm homicides from 1999 to 2001, followed by a small but steady increase in homicides over the next 2 years. A similar pattern is seen among youth between the ages of 15 and 19 years across racial groups. However, both black and white males between the ages of 20 and 25 years have shown little change in this time period, while white females and black males aged 25 to 29 years have shown a steady increase in firearm homicide between 1999 and 2003.

Figure 1 Average Firearm Homicide Rate (2001–2004) by Race and Selected Age Groups: Males

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2005).

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