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FIREARMS FACTS & INFORMATION
- The fatal firearms accident rate is
now at an all-time low, down 82% since the all time high recorded
in 1904. The fatal firearms accidents rate -0.6 fatal accidents
per 100,000 persons in the U.S. Population-pales in comparison
to rates for motor vehicle accidents (16.3), home accidents (8.7),
other public accidents (7.8) and work-related accidents (3.5)
(According to the "Accident Facts: National Safety Council)
- The annual number of fatal firearm
accidents is at an all-time low. 1,409 in 1992, the most recent
year for which exact data are available. (The national Center
for Health Statistics).
- Since 1930, the number of annual fatal
firearms accidents has decreased 56%, while the number of privately
owned guns has quadrupled and the U.S. Population ahs doubled.
(National Center for Health Statistics, National Safety Council,
Bureau of Census, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and
firearms industry reports.)
- Firearms accidents account for a small
percentage of the 86,777 fatal accidents among the U.S. Populations
in 1992: (National Center for Health Statistics)
o Motor Vehicles 40,982 47%
o Falls 12,646 15%
o Other 11,379 13%
o Poisoning 7,082 8%
o Fires 3,958 5%
o Drowning 3,524 4%
o Suffocation, ingested objects 3,128 4%
o Medical Mistakes 2,669 3%
o Firearms 1,409 1.6%
- Since 1975, fatal firearms accidents
among children have decreased 60%.
(National
Safety Council)
- Firearm accidents accounted for a
small percentage of the 6,674 fatal accidents among children 0-14
years of age in 1992. (National Center for Health Statistics).
o Motor Vehicles 2, 924 44%
o Drowning 992 15%
o Fire 984 15%
o Other 991 15%
o Suffocation, ingested object 237 4%
o Firearm 216 3%
o Falls 140 2%
o Medical 101 2%
o Poison 89 1%
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