Several small case control studies have suggested that handgun ownership is a risk factor for violent death. We report the results of a study of recent handgun purchase, as opposed to handgun ownership, as a risk factor for violent death. The study population consists of all persons 21 years of age or older dying in California in 1998 (approximately 216,000 persons). Cases are defined as all persons dying from an external cause. Controls are all persons dying from a nonexternal cause. The critical exposure is the purchase of a handgun within two years of death. Logistic regression will be used to calculate odds ratios, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, and urban/rural location. Study hypotheses are that recent handgun purchasers will be at selectively increased risk for violent death, and that risk will be greatest for death involving firearms. In addition, data will be presented on the proportion of persons dying from selected causes in 1998, particularly firearm suicide and homicide, who purchased handguns within two years of date of death.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will: know the extent to which gun purchase is a risk factor for death; know how this risk is affected by age, race/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, and urban/rural location; know the proportion of persons dying from firearm suicide and homicide who have recently purchased handguns
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.