So gun toters are handling their weapons either less often or more safely. The news service quotes experts who cite, among other factors, tougher rules for buying handguns and the bad rap workplace and school shootings have given firearms. In any event, the trend toward fewer injuries from gunplay is reason to cheer. Lethal bullet injuries dipped by more than a fourth and non-lethal injuries by nearly a half from 1993 to 1998. But the federal report also offers reasons to fret.
Guns continue to rank second only to cars as a cause of death by injury.
Guns are highly lethal. Suicides, which peak for men 65 and older, now outnumber the latter two causes of death combined. In short, handguns still pose a hazard, which public policy must seek to reduce. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on April 30, 2001. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.