 Firearm injury is a complex, public health issue that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.
As reported in the National Vital Statistics Report (Vol. 54, No. 13, April 19, 2006), firearms were responsible for over 30,000 deaths per year in 2003 and were the second leading cause of injury-related death (National Center for Health Statistics, June 30, 2006).
The majority of firearm deaths were suicides and homicides. Of the more than 30,000 deaths attributed to firearms in 2003, 56% were suicides and 40% were homicides (CDC National Vital Statistics Report Vol. 54, No. 13, April 19, 2006).
U.S. rates for firearm homicide and suicide are far higher than in other countries. A CDC study found that American children are 12 times more likely to die from a firearm injury than children in other industrialized countries ("Rates of Homicide, Suicide, and Firearm-Related Death among Children -26 Industrialized Countries,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 46(05): 101-105, February 07, 1997).
Experts estimate the cost of firearm injuries in the billions of dollars. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 282 No. 5, August 4, 1999) found that firearm-related injuries in 1994 cost about $2.3 billion and that public funds paid for almost half of these costs! Furthermore, if public services, medical and loss of productivity expenses are taken into consideration, the cost of firearm-related injuries increases dramatically, to $40 billion (“Costs of gunshot and cut/stab wounds in the United States, with some Canadian comparisons,” Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 1 Issue 3, May 1997).
Washington State
- From 2000 to 2004, 2,665 Washington residents died from a firearm injury, including 215 youths and children ages 19 and younger (WA Dept. of Health, August 2006).
- For the same period, 1,271 residents were hospitalized for non-fatal firearm injuries, including 230 youths and children ages 19 and younger (WA Dept. of Health, January 2007).
King County
- From 2000 to 2004, 642 King County residents died from a firearm-related injury (WA Dept. of Health, August 2006).
- For the same period, 407 King County residents were hospitalized for non-fatal firearm injuries (WA Dept. of Health, January 2007).
- In 2004, about 149,000 King County households owned a firearm. About 31,000 households stored their firearms loaded and 19,000 stored them unlocked and loaded. An estimated 4,000 King County children aged 17 and younger lived in homes with loaded and unlocked firearms (2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Public Health- Seattle & King County).
 LOKITUP Campaign
LOK-IT-UP raises awareness about the importance of safe firearm storage, informs the public about safe storage options, and promotes the availability of safe storage devices. The LOK-IT-UP steering committee disseminates safe firearm storage messages throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap Counties. Firearm retailers, firearm owners, parents, schools, law enforcement, public health, elected officials, community organizations, and health care providers support the LOK-IT-UP Campaign. The campaign focuses on family and community safety. It is NOT a policy or crime prevention program, nor does it address the issue of gun control or a private citizen’s right to bear arms.
In conjunction with the LOK-IT-UP Campaign, Public Health-Seattle & King County has created a training module to teach health providers how to speak to patients about safe storage. For a copy of the module or more information, contact the Public Health – Seattle & King County, Injury Prevention Program at 206-205-5866.
LOK-IT-UP partners:
Resources to prevent firearm injuries
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