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The association between the purchase of a handgun and homicide or suicide

Bibliographic Data

ID11036243
AuthorsP Cummings (Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center), Thomas D Koepsell, David C Grossman, James Savarino, R Thompson (0000-0003-0127-513X), R S Thompson
Year1997
Volume87
Issue6
Pages974-978
Publication date1997-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.87.6.974
PMID9224179
OpenAlexW2074041817
LanguageEN
Citations received36
References cited12

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether purchase of a handgun from a licensed dealer is associated with the risk of homicide or suicide and whether any association varies in relation to time since purchase. METHODS: A case-control study was done among the members of a large health maintenance organization. Case subjects were the 353 suicide victims and 117 homicide victims among the members from 1980 through 1992. Five control subjects were matched to each case subject on age, sex, and zip code of residence. Handgun purchase information was obtained from the Department of Licensing. RESULTS: The adjusted relative risk of suicide was 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4, 2.5) for persons with a history of family handgun purchase from a registered dealer. The adjusted relative risk for homicide, given a history of family handgun purchase, was 2.2 (95% CI = 1.3, 3.7). For both suicide and homicide, the elevated relative risks persisted for more than 5 years after the purchase. CONCLUSIONS: Legal purchase of a handgun appears to be associated with a long-lasting increased risk of violent death

Confidence interval · Environmental health · Homicide · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Relative risk · Residence · Suicide prevention · Demography · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Traumatic Ocular and Foreign Body Injuries

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Unique citing works36
Citations per year1,24
Citation span1997 - 2025 (29)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 35
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