Blog
Hear from experts working to reduce firearm injury
Current Considerations about the Elderly and Firearms
Considering people above the age of 65 are at increased risk of suicide, this paper explains that the memory, thinking, judgement, and physical competence should play into elders' ability to have access to firearms.
Management of Agitation and Aggression Associated with Alzheimer Disease
Alzheimer's disease is associated with many distressing behavioral and psychological symptoms. This paper looks beyond commonly prescribed antipsychotics to consider other pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for agitation and aggression seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Risks and Targeted Interventions: Firearms in Intimate Partner Violence
This systematic review of studies published from 1990-2014 found that if violent intimate partners have access to firearms, the intimate partner violence increases in severity and deadliness.
Guns in Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing Incidents by Type of Weapon
This study finds that guns are most often used in male-on-female threats in the context of intimate partner violence, and although less likely to result in physical harm, these threats result in victims being more likely to be frightened.
Risk Factors for Violent Death of Women in the Home
Many factors predispose women to a violent death in the home, as this study finds. Having readily available firearms in the home is associated with an increased risk of both homicide and suicide of women.
Mental Illness and Reduction of Gun Violence and Suicide: Bringing Epidemiologic Research to Policy
Although there is a popular belief that mental illness results in violence, evidence from benchmark epidemiological studies show that most people with serious mental illness are never violent but have an increased risk of suicide, which accounts for over half of firearm related deaths in the United States.
Firearm-related Hospitalization and Risk for Subsequent Violent Injury, Death, or Crime Perpetration: A Cohort Study
This study demonstrated that patients with prior firearm-related hospitalization are at greater risk for subsequent firearm-related hospitalization, making it likely that they have a heightened risk for multiple violent victimizations or crime perpetration.
Prior Misdemeanor Convictions as a Risk Factor for Later Violent and Firearm-related Criminal Activity among Authorized Purchasers of Handguns
This retrospective cohort study found that handgun purchasers with a prior criminal history were at increased risk of future criminal activity, including firearm-related crimes.
Firearm Presence in Households of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
This cross-sectional study found a high prevalence of firearm prevalence and unsafe firearm storage practices in households with demented family members.
Yes, You Can: Physicians, Patients, and Firearms
Despite concern that local regulations prohibit physicians from asking about or providing counseling about firearm safety, this article finds that there are actually only rare exceptions where this is the case. This paper also summarizes the literature on current physician practices in asking and counseling about firearms, highlighting strategies to reduce patients' risk for firearm-related death or serious injury.
Differences Between New and Long-standing US Gun Owners: Results from a National Survey
This cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative probability-based online survey conducted in 2015 in the United States found that new gun owners were more likely to be younger, liberal, own fewer guns, and implement safe storage methods.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Interventions to Delay Gun Access in VA Mental Health Settings
In this paper, the VA was found to have a substantial role in addressing gun safety, particularly in implementing measures to delay gun access during high-risk periods for suicide.