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Data were available about storage practices for 9 of the 12 unintentional and suicide deaths from firearms. None of these guns were stored safely and 60% (7/12) belonged to an adult family member. According to the 1996-1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, in 16 % of homes where both firearms and children are present, the firearms are kept loaded and unlocked. See Figure 8: Firearm storage practices in unintentional ∓ suicide deaths among children.

Unintentional Firearm Deaths
There were four unintentional firearm injury deaths in 1999. The victims ranged in age from 23 months to 16 years. All of the victims were white males. The majority of unintentional firearm deaths occurred at home.

Seventy-five percent (3) of these deaths were caused by a handgun and one was caused by a shotgun. None of the firearms were stored in a locked location, none had a trigger lock, and none were stored separately from the ammunition. Three guns belonged to an adult family member.


In none of the incidents were the victims or shooter supervised by an adult at the time of the incident. Seventy-five percent (3) of these incidents were witnessed by another child. The victim shot himself in one case, and was shot by another child under age 18 in the remaining three cases. In two of these incidents the victims were playing with guns, in one, the victim was playing Russian Roulette 3 . In one incident, alcohol or other substances were identified as factors contributing to the death. Seventy-five percent (3) had a history with SCF, and two children had parents with mental health problems. In all cases there was a death scene investigation.

Firearm Suicides
There were eight suicides by firearm. Twenty-five percent (2) of victims were aged 10-14 and 75% (6) were 15-17. All were male. Four of the incidents involved a handgun and four a rifle/shotgun. In four cases the gun belonged to the victim?s parent, in two cases the gun belonged to the victim, and in two cases the gun was stolen. In the six incidents for which information about firearm storage was known, one of the firearms was stored in a locked place with ammunition, and in five incidents the gun was stored unlocked with the ammunition. None of these deaths were witnessed. In three cases the victim was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Five of the victims had a history of prior arrests or convictions for a crime. Seventy-five percent (6) of these deaths occurred at home.

In all cases a death scene investigation was conducted.


Additional information on suicides by all causes can be found in the Special Topics: Suicide/Intentional Self Harm section.

Firearm Homicides
There were three homicides by firearm in 1999. Sixty-seven percent (2) of the victims were aged 10-14 and one victim was 15-17 years old. The perpetrators ranged in age from 12-19 years. Sixty-seven percent (2) of the victims were male; the single female victim was 14 years old.

Alcohol and/or other drugs were not a factor in any of the fatalities. One incident was a murder/suicide due to a teen pregnancy, one was a suspected gang-related shooting, and one victim was killed as a result of a hunting incident in which he was mistaken as prey.

In all cases a death scene and criminal investigation followed the shootings, and two arrests were made. A more complete discussion of criminal investigations can be found in the Special Topics: Criminal Investigations and Judicial Outcomes section.

Recommendations to Prevent Firearm Related Deaths

• Educate the public about safe firearm storage practice including: keeping firearms in locked storage
• compartments, storing ammunition separately, and using trigger locks.
• Remove or lock up guns in homes where a youth at risk for suicide lives. (Additional Recommendations for preventing firearm suicides are described later in this report in Special Topics: Suicide/Intentional Self Harm).
• Enact safe storage legislation.

• Ceasefire gun buy back program
• NATIONAL SAFE KIDS gunlock distribution