Introduction: There has been increased interest in linking firearm manufacturers with gun deaths. Few analyses have described firearms and manufacturers linked with deaths in a defined area. The current study covered eight Southeastern Wisconsin counties from 1994-1997. Methods: Data were abstracted from medical examiners/coroners, local law enforcement agencies and the State Crime Laboratory. Justifiable homicides and homicide-suicides were excluded. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons. Results: Information was available for 439 different firearms used in 445 homicides and 381 firearms from 383 suicides. Ninety-six percent of homicides involved a handgun compared to 64% of suicides (p<.001). The distribution of the caliber of handguns involved in homicides (19% small caliber, 68% medium, and 12% large) differed significantly from those involved in suicides (32%, 56%, and 12%, respectively), p<.001. The most common caliber was .357/.38 (25% of homicide and 39% of suicide handguns), followed by 9mm for homicide (23%) and 22cal for suicide (24%). The most common manufacturer was Smith & Wesson (14% of 125 homicide and 21% of 239 suicide handguns with information). Glock, Taurus, Sturm Ruger, Jennings, and Raven together represented 37% of homicide and 27% of suicide handguns; Colt's Manufacturing represented 9% of suicide and 1% of homicide handguns. "Ring of Fire" companies (Raven/Lorcin/Davis/Jennings/Phoenix/Bryco/Sundance) manufactured 22% of homicide and 10% of suicide handguns (p<.001); these percentages were similar within compared to outside the City of Milwaukee. Conclusions: Almost all firearm homicides and two-thirds of suicides involved handguns. Six manufacturers accounted for approximately half of both homicide and suicide handguns.
Learning Objectives: 1. Articulate differences in types of firearms used in homicides compared to suicides 2. Demonstrate usefulness of Wisconsin Firearm Injury Reporting System (FIRS)data to characterize firearms involved in fatalities
Keywords: Firearms, Violence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.