Recently, researchers conducted a population-based study of firearm injuries in three cities served by sophisticated emergency services and level1 trauma centers. They found that 80 percent of fatalities were pronounced dead on the scene or immediately following arrival in an emergency department. Ninety-seven percent of deaths occurred within 24 hours of injury. In short, greater emphasis must be placed on prevention to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and costs of gunshot wounds. By bringing a fresh viewpoint, new allies, and different analytical methodologies to violence control, this public health approach can complement that of the criminal justice community.
Education is a mainstay of public health.
In general, firearm ownership is more common in rural areas and small towns, and less common in urban areas, but urban gun owners are more likely to own handguns. In up to 50 percent of gun-owning households, firearms are kept loaded at least part of the time. Roughly 30 percent of all handguns are kept loaded and unlocked, and therefore easily accessible. This violates a central tenet of gun safety. There is consensus on these points across the political and professional spectrums.