spectr17
12-21-2001, 10:33 PM
NSSF: Firearms Injuries Decrease Dramatically ###
19 Dec 10:30
National Shooting Sports Foundation: Firearms Injuries Decrease Dramatically; Strong Downward Trend Shown In Statistical Analysis
Contact: Paul Erhardt of the National Shooting Sports Foundation,
203-426-1320
NEWTOWN, Conn., Dec. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was
released today by the National Shooting Sports Foundation:
Analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from
the Firearms Injury Surveillance Study for 1993-1997 show a
dramatic decrease in non-fatal firearms-related injuries for all
age categories for children and adolescents. This decrease
coincides with a similar drop in accidental firearms fatalities,
which reached an all-time low in 2000.
"This good news underscores the value of nationwide safety
efforts sponsored by the shooting sports industry, and those of the
thousands of volunteers in hunter safety education, the National
Rifle Association, Boy Scouts and 4-H firearm safety instruction
who make a positive contribution to increasingly safe ownership of
firearms and enjoyment of the shooting sports," said Bob Delfay,
president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation
(NSSF).
The study shows a 37 percent decrease in the total number of
non-fatal firearms-related injuries in the five-year period. The
drop is from 28,963 in 1993 to 18,009 in 1997 for children and
adolescents ages 0-19. The greatest rates of decrease occurred
among the youngest age groups with non-fatal firearms-related
injuries for children ages 0-4 down 50 percent, and non-fatal
firearms-related injuries for children ages 5-9 down 76 percent.
The total number of non-fatal firearms-related injuries for
children under 10 dropped 64 percent from 1,308 in 1993 to 465 in
1997. These firearm-related injury numbers would be even lower but
the study includes such broadly defined non-penetrating gunshot
injuries as those from powder burns, recoil, and even pistol
whipping (the use of a firearm as a blunt object in an assault).
The National Shooting Sports Foundation publishes numerous
brochures for parents, individual firearms owners, sportsmen and
hunters. Safety education focuses on safe handling and storage
with special emphasis on properly storing an unloaded firearm so
that it is inaccessible to children or other unauthorized persons.
Key firearm safety points include:
-- Follow safe firearm handling practices at all times: keep the
muzzle pointed in a safe direction; keep fingers off the trigger;
and keep the firearm unloaded when not in use.
-- Keep all unattended firearms locked in a safe place, away
from children and other unauthorized persons; store ammunition
under lock and key, separately from firearms.
-- Read and understand the owner's manual that came with the
firearm.
In 1999 NSSF launched Project HomeSafe, now among the nation's
largest firearms safety initiatives, distributing free firearms
safety kits in communities around the country. The safety kits,
distributed in cooperation with Lt. Governors and local law
enforcement, include a cable-style gun lock and firearms safety
brochure. Project HomeSafe is funded by the firearms industry and
a $4.9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Justice. For
more information on Project HomeSafe visit http://www.projecthomesafe.org.
In 2000, the number of accidental firearm fatalities in the United
States fell to an all-time low, according to the National Safety
Council's Injury Facts report. The preliminary total of 600
firearm fatalities in 2000 is 25 percent fewer than in 1999,
reflects a 58 percent drop since 1990, and is the lowest number
of fatalities reported since records were first kept in 1903.
In the same year accidental firearms fatalities were reduced to
600, the National Safety Council reports accidental drowning deaths
in the United States numbered 3,900. There were 3,600 deaths from
fires and burns, and poisonings of all types took 12,100 lives.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, with over 1,900
members, is the firearms industry's largest and most diverse trade
association. Formed in 1961, the NSSF manages a variety of
outreach programs with a special emphasis on efforts to promote
firearm safety education to all gun owners. For additional
information visit the NSSF Web site at http://www.nssf.org.
19 Dec 10:30
National Shooting Sports Foundation: Firearms Injuries Decrease Dramatically; Strong Downward Trend Shown In Statistical Analysis
Contact: Paul Erhardt of the National Shooting Sports Foundation,
203-426-1320
NEWTOWN, Conn., Dec. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was
released today by the National Shooting Sports Foundation:
Analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from
the Firearms Injury Surveillance Study for 1993-1997 show a
dramatic decrease in non-fatal firearms-related injuries for all
age categories for children and adolescents. This decrease
coincides with a similar drop in accidental firearms fatalities,
which reached an all-time low in 2000.
"This good news underscores the value of nationwide safety
efforts sponsored by the shooting sports industry, and those of the
thousands of volunteers in hunter safety education, the National
Rifle Association, Boy Scouts and 4-H firearm safety instruction
who make a positive contribution to increasingly safe ownership of
firearms and enjoyment of the shooting sports," said Bob Delfay,
president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation
(NSSF).
The study shows a 37 percent decrease in the total number of
non-fatal firearms-related injuries in the five-year period. The
drop is from 28,963 in 1993 to 18,009 in 1997 for children and
adolescents ages 0-19. The greatest rates of decrease occurred
among the youngest age groups with non-fatal firearms-related
injuries for children ages 0-4 down 50 percent, and non-fatal
firearms-related injuries for children ages 5-9 down 76 percent.
The total number of non-fatal firearms-related injuries for
children under 10 dropped 64 percent from 1,308 in 1993 to 465 in
1997. These firearm-related injury numbers would be even lower but
the study includes such broadly defined non-penetrating gunshot
injuries as those from powder burns, recoil, and even pistol
whipping (the use of a firearm as a blunt object in an assault).
The National Shooting Sports Foundation publishes numerous
brochures for parents, individual firearms owners, sportsmen and
hunters. Safety education focuses on safe handling and storage
with special emphasis on properly storing an unloaded firearm so
that it is inaccessible to children or other unauthorized persons.
Key firearm safety points include:
-- Follow safe firearm handling practices at all times: keep the
muzzle pointed in a safe direction; keep fingers off the trigger;
and keep the firearm unloaded when not in use.
-- Keep all unattended firearms locked in a safe place, away
from children and other unauthorized persons; store ammunition
under lock and key, separately from firearms.
-- Read and understand the owner's manual that came with the
firearm.
In 1999 NSSF launched Project HomeSafe, now among the nation's
largest firearms safety initiatives, distributing free firearms
safety kits in communities around the country. The safety kits,
distributed in cooperation with Lt. Governors and local law
enforcement, include a cable-style gun lock and firearms safety
brochure. Project HomeSafe is funded by the firearms industry and
a $4.9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Justice. For
more information on Project HomeSafe visit http://www.projecthomesafe.org.
In 2000, the number of accidental firearm fatalities in the United
States fell to an all-time low, according to the National Safety
Council's Injury Facts report. The preliminary total of 600
firearm fatalities in 2000 is 25 percent fewer than in 1999,
reflects a 58 percent drop since 1990, and is the lowest number
of fatalities reported since records were first kept in 1903.
In the same year accidental firearms fatalities were reduced to
600, the National Safety Council reports accidental drowning deaths
in the United States numbered 3,900. There were 3,600 deaths from
fires and burns, and poisonings of all types took 12,100 lives.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, with over 1,900
members, is the firearms industry's largest and most diverse trade
association. Formed in 1961, the NSSF manages a variety of
outreach programs with a special emphasis on efforts to promote
firearm safety education to all gun owners. For additional
information visit the NSSF Web site at http://www.nssf.org.