Firearm-related deaths in Brescia (Northern Italy) between 1994 and 2006: A retrospective study

An Analysis of Firearms-Related Deaths Between 1993-2010: A Retrospective Study

“…Although several studies have stated this rate as ranging between 62.2%-71.80%, it was determined by Solarino et al [4] as 88.4%, by Kellermann [28] as 88%, by Guileyardo [29] as 65%, by Riddick [30] as 53%, by Al Ragheb [31] as 51%, by Verzeletti et al [32] as 35.9%, and by Druid [27] as 18.7%. While the results of the current study are similar to those of some previous studies, they are also different from those of some others.…”

“…In several studies in our country this rate has been reported as between 11.70-32.7% [6,8,[33][34][35] and in studies in other countries as 6.5-73.9%. [5,27,32] Researchers have reported a strong relationship between access to firearms and suicide. [36][37][38] In the current study, the suicide rate is higher than in other studies, which may be due to a high rate of accessibility to firearms of the study population.…”

“…In studies by Azmak, [8] Al Ragheb, [31] Riddick, [30] Muscat, [41] Verzeletti [32] and Solarino [4] short barrelled weapon types were determined to have been used in homicide cases. In contrast, Druid stated that the weapon type most used in homicide cases was a shotgun and secondly, rifles.…”

“…In other studies, similar results have also been reported. [4,8,32,38] Al Ragheb, [31] Riddick [30] and Muscat [41] reported that while the handgun was common in suicide cases in the civil population, rifled weapons were common in military populations. The preferred weapon type in suicide cases of the current study was mostly long barrelled (53.1%), which is due to a higher rate of use of long barrelled weapons in the study population.…”

“…In homicide cases where a long-barrelled weapon had been used the most common entry wound localization has been reported as the chest area. [41] Rates of single entry wound have been reported by Fedakar [35] as 70.9% of cases, by Amiri [15] as 65.2%, by Verzeletti [32] as 74.8%, by Kohli [5] as 77%, and by Azmak [8] as 74.1%. When the current study was evaluated according to single entry wound, the findings are consistent with literature.…”