Posted on 06/05/2004 5:01:04 AM PDT by Gun142
Three out of four firearms deaths in Minnesota from 1998 through 2001 were caused by self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to a report released this week by the Minnesota Department of Health.
The information, compiled by the department as part of an ongoing effort to investigate and document violence in Minnesota, is considered one of the most comprehensive analyses yet of firearms injuries in the state, said Jon Roesler, senior epidemiologist with the agency's injury and violence prevention unit.
Roesler said the report also should help "provide context" to the debate regarding the use of firearms in a state that last year loosened restrictions on the law allowing its residents to carry handguns in public.
"Firearms are a hot topic," Roesler said. "I mean, it's polarized people. On the one hand, ... firearms are not a leading cause of fatalities in our state. The numbers are not huge.
"But on the flip side," Roesler continued, "if your son or daughter is killed by a firearm, it's a big deal."
He said information about firearms fatalities in Minnesota has been consistently documented in recent years. But sorting through and linking data from multiple sources regarding nonfatal injuries hadn't been done.
"We knew how many people were dying from firearms, but we didn't know how many were injured from firearms," he said. "Now, we know."
The Health Department is required by the Legislature to develop and maintain a computerized database on firearms injuries.
Roesler said the department is in the process of collecting and analyzing data on firearms injuries for 2002 and 2003.
The data
In preparing the report released this week, the department gathered data from the state's 87 counties over four years beginning in 1998. It analyzed hospital discharge information, death certificates and statistics from the state's trauma centers.
Among the findings:
• At least 2,996 Minnesotans suffered firearms injuries over the four-year period. Of those, 1,284 people died from the wounds; 976 of which were self-inflicted.
• Men accounted for 88 percent of all injuries reported, with those ages 15 to 24 sustaining more fatal and nonfatal injuries than any other age group.
• Seniors had the highest rate of suicide by firearms, followed by teens and young adults between 15 and 24.
• Most of the firearms injuries occurred in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.
• Most firearms injuries in rural Minnesota were self-inflicted; most in the metro area were the result of assaults or homicides.
• Firearms injury rates were higher for blacks, American Indians and Asians than they were for whites. The injury rate for blacks was the greatest -- seven times that of whites.
• Rates of firearms injuries were highest in communities with a median income of $30,000 or less.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
A few facts
Hmmmm...it seems like the MN churches who are on their anti-gun crusade ought to be sticking to their real job of bringing the Gospel of Christ to hurting souls. That would be far more beneficial in reducing gun-related deaths, since only 300 of 1200 deaths were not self-inflicted . But you don't get your name in the paper for preventing a suicide by giving a person hope, do you.
It's all Bush's fault.
Interesting article. Of course, gun ownership doesn't really effect suicide rates, just the method chosen Look at Japan - very high suicide rates, yet very few privatly owned guns.
Sounds a bit odd...kinda like the firearms were doing this on their own.
But still, an interesting post.
...Sad, any way you look at it...
Very well said!
As if a suicidal soul would give up on the idea if they couldn't find a gun. If guns were banned, sales of rope would go up.
What I find odd is that most libs support assisted suicide, they would support Kevorkian pumping them full of poison, but abhor the entrepreneurial spirits that take the DIY route.
In the end, it's all about disarming the population.
Hmmm.
If Minnesota is typical, then most gun deaths in general are suicides.
Maybe this is the reason that anti-second-amendment people say "statistics show that the most likely victim of a gun is the owner of the gun."
If so, it would be typical Clinton-speak as used by liberals.
(steely)
Not odd at all.
You see the "libs" don't like the brain, and bone fragments all over the perfectly good furnishings.
Also there's that part about using an automatic pistol, and having more than one round in the clip.
Seems the "libs" take the weapon out of the deceased hand and shoot themselves. ;)
Absolutely amazing statistics. Maybe Minnesota needs to work on making itself into a happier place to live instead of trying to control peoples rights.
I never would have guessed the ratio was that high.
Prosecute all who commit suicide to the fullest extent of the law.
There is talk of banning the sale of rope to the general publick /sarcasm
On the one hand, ... firearms are not a leading cause of fatalities in our state. The numbers are not huge. "But on the flip side," Roesler continued, "if your son or daughter is killed by a firearm, it's a big deal."
" Most firearms injuries in rural Minnesota were self-inflicted; most in the metro area were the result of assaults or homicides"
Fails to mention that these numbers include criminals who are shot by police in the commission of, or fleeing from a crime.
"Firearms injury rates were higher for blacks, American Indians and Asians than they were for whites."
And we know that gang members shooting each other should be divided equally amongst all races, right?
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