This document discusses firearm violence in the United States. Some key points: - From 2004-2013 there were over 300,000 deaths from firearm suicide and homicide in the US. In 2013 alone there were over 32,000 such deaths. - Firearm deaths disproportionately impact young black males. Death rates from firearm homicide are highest among black males ages 15-29. - Alcohol abuse is strongly associated with violence. Over a third of violent crime perpetrators and firearm suicide victims had acute intoxication. - International comparisons show the US has much higher rates of firearm deaths and assaults than other developed nations.

1. Preventing Firearm
Violence:
From Research to Policy
Garen Wintemute, MD, MPH
May 27, 2015

2. All Those People
• 304,215 deaths from firearm suicide or
homicide (firearm violence), 2004-2013
– 316,442 altogether
• 32,383 deaths, 2013
• 69.5% of homicides, 51.5% of suicides
• $164.6 B in aggregate costs for firearm
violence, 2010: ~1.1% of GDP

4. Death Rates from Firearm Homicide
Males, 2012
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
≥85
Deaths/100,000Population
Age
Black
White
Hispanic

5. Death Rates from Firearm Suicide
Males, 2012
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45 0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
≥85
Deaths/100,000Population
Age
White
Black
Hispanic

6. Death Rates from Firearm Violence
Males, 2012
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
≥85
Deaths/100,000Population
Age
Black
White
Hispanic

7. Deaths from Firearm Violence
Males, 2012
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
≥85
NumberofDeaths
Age
White
Black
Hispanic

8. • 30d alcohol use: 55% any, 17% binge,
6% chronic
• Firearm ownership: ~50M total; 35% of men,
11% of women
• 30d alcohol use among firearm owners:
8.9-11.7M binge, 2.5-3.6M chronic
Alcohol and Firearms
Sources: 2010 BRFSS (alcohol), General Social Survey (firearms)

9. • Prevalence of acute intoxication
– 37% of violent felony perpetrators (BJS surveys)
– 46% of homicide perpetrators (BJS surveys)
– 25.7% of firearm suicide perpetrators (tox)*
– 30.2% of firearm homicide victims (tox)*
• Relative risk:
– Interpersonal violence perpetration, 3x-6x (pre-existing)
– Firearm violence victimization, 3x-6x (acute)
– Firearm suicide, 3x-10x (pre-existing); 75x-85x (acute)
• Dose-response
Alcohol Abuse and Violence
* Branas C. Alcohol and Firearms. Forthcoming.

10. Rates of Alcohol-Attributable Death: Motor
Vehicle Crashes and Violence, 2006-2010
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Overall Males Females
Deathsper100,000Population
Motor-vehicle traffic crashes
All suicide/homicide
Firearm suicide/homicide
Source: CDC, ARDI

11. Intervention
• Federal (and California) statute silent
• 3 states (and DC) have per se laws
• California proposal: multiple DUI convictions
– SB 755 (Wolk), passed in 2013, but vetoed
• Two studies in progress
• New summary of existing research

12. Death Rates from Firearm Homicide and
Suicide, OECD Nations
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 USA
Finland
Switzerland
Austria
France
Canada
Norway
Israel
Belgium
Sweden
Denmark
Italy
Portugal
NewZealand
Germany
Australia
Ireland
Netherlands
Spain
UK
Japan
SKorea
Deaths/100,000Population
Suicide
Homicide

13. Prevalence of Past-Year Assault
OECD Nations
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Belgium
Israel
Portugal
Sweden
France
Netherlands
Italy
Switzerland
Spain
Denmark
Germany
Austria
Norway
Ireland
Finland
NewZealand
Australia
SKorea
UK
USA
Japan
Canada
AssaultedinPast12Months,%