Self-inflicted and Unintentional Firearm Injuries Among Children and Adolescents

CONTEXT: The source and ownership of guns used by children to shoot themselves or others is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the ownership and usual storage location of firearms used in unintentional and self-inflicted intentional firearm deaths and injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: King County, Washington. PATIENTS: Youths aged from birth to 19 years who sought medical treatment at a level I trauma center for a self-inflicted or unintentional firearm injury between 1990 and 1995 or who presented to the county medical examiner with a fatal self-inflicted or unintentional firearm injury between 1990 and 1995. DATA SOURCES: County medical examiner records, regional police investigative reports, medical records from a level I trauma center, and surveys of victims' families. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Source and ownership of the associated firearm. RESULTS: Fifty-six fatal injuries and 68 nonfatal firearm injuries that met the criteria were identified. Of these, 59 were intentionally self-inflicted deaths and injuries and 65 were unintentional deaths and injuries. A firearm owned by a household member living with the victim was used in 33 (65%) of 51 suicides and suicide attempts and 11 (23%) of 47 unintentional injuries and deaths. Additionally, a firearm owned by another relative, friend, or parent of a friend of the victim was used in 4 (8%) of the 51 suicides and suicide attempts and 23 (49%) of the 47 unintentional injuries and deaths. Parental ownership accounted for 29 (57%) of the 51 suicides and suicide attempts and 9 (19%) of the 47 unintentional injuries and deaths. More than 75% of the guns used in suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, a relative, or a friend. CONCLUSION: Most guns involved in self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries originate either from the victim's home or the home of a friend or relative.