Firearm Facts
National Firearm Facts
- Firearms are second to motor vehicles as the leading cause of death from injury in the U.S. (Public Health Data Watch, August 2000, Public Health - Seattle & King County)
- 60.9% of firearms used in school-associated homicides or suicidescame from the perpetrator’s home or from a friend or relative of the perpetrator. (Source of Firearms Used by Students in School - Associated Violent Deaths - United States, 1992-1999, MMWR Weekly, March 7, 2003/52(09); 169-172)
Washington State Firearm Facts
- In Washington State, 2,722 residents, including 115 children 17 years old or younger, died as a result of firearms between 1998 and 2002. ( WA State Injury Prevention Program March 2004)
- 1313 people, including 130 children 17 years old or younger, were hospitalized for firearm-related injuries, between 1998 and 2002. (WA State Injury Prevention Program March 2004)
- 55% of suicides in Washington are committed with firearms. (The Health of Washington State, 2002: WA State DOH)
- More than half (56%) of homicides in Washington are committed with firearms. (The Health of Washington State, 2002: WA State DOH)
- Firearms are present in approximately 711,000 of Washington households. Of these households, 394,000 store their guns unlocked, and 148,000 store their guns loaded. (WA State Department of Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2000)
The safe storage of firearms in a locked location can reduce the risk of deaths, injuries and suicides involving children and teens.