NCJ Number
162280
Journal
JAMA Volume: 267 Issue: 9 Dated: (March 4, 1992) Pages: 1171-1174
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Viewing firearm violence as a public health issue suggests that the problem can be addressed by strategies used to counter other public health threats.
Abstract
One aspect of improving public health is educational campaigns. The public should be continuously informed that guns purchased for self-protection in the home are more often used by and against people within the home than against intruders. Another approach is to pressure the media to stop glamorizing guns and accurately portray the consequences of their use. Further, children can be taught nonviolent ways to resolve conflict. The use of locks, from simple padlocks to more sophisticated security technologies, should be promoted to prevent accidental shootings by children and render guns user- specific and therefore less likely to be stolen. "Load indicators" should be required on guns to prevent accidental shootings while cleaning guns thought to be unloaded. The dangerousness of guns can be reduced by limiting the velocities of bullets and restricting large-caliber weapons that do the most tissue damage per shot, thereby increasing victims' survival odds. Finally, parents and guardians can be held liable for injuries caused by guns that are not properly locked up. Seven States now have or are considering such laws.