Jeffery A, Hulewicz B, Langlois N, Little D, Ellis P
Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2007 Dec;3(4):252-7. doi: 10.1007/s12024-007-0035-0.
This study reviews firearm-related deaths (homicidal, suicidal and accidental) from 1994 to 2003 in the Western Sidney area, Australia, serviced by the Westmead Department of Forensic Medicine, in order to document the features of the cases and to assess the effect of the introduction of the NSW Firearms Act in 1996. There were 211 fatalities involving firearms (1.8% of all of the Coroner's cases for the period); firearm deaths were classified as homicide (75), suicide (134) or accidental (2). There was a clear peak of homicide deaths by firearm in the 20-29 age group, whereas the suicide peak was broad, spanning the ages 20-69 years. More suicides occurred at home than homicides and a higher proportion of suicides were by rifle than homicides, which favoured hand guns. Entry wounds in suicides mostly involved the head, with the chest being the commonest entry site in homicides. The only statistically significant trend was for an increase in the number of firearm-related suicides in males, comparing the number of deaths pre- and post-firearm law introduction. The study includes reports of two suicides by unusual weapons: a home-made pipe gun and a spear gun.
本研究回顾了1994年至2003年期间澳大利亚悉尼西部地区与枪支相关的死亡情况（包括他杀、自杀和意外死亡），该地区由韦斯特米德法医部提供服务，目的是记录这些案件的特征，并评估1996年新南威尔士州枪支法案实施的影响。共有211人死于枪支（占该时期验尸官处理的所有案件的1.8%）；枪支死亡被分类为他杀（75例）、自杀（134例）或意外（2例）。20至29岁年龄组的枪支他杀死亡人数有明显峰值，而自杀峰值范围较宽，涵盖20至69岁年龄段。在家中发生的自杀事件比他杀事件更多，而且自杀使用步枪的比例高于他杀，他杀更倾向于使用手枪。自杀的入口伤大多涉及头部，而他杀中最常见的入口部位是胸部。唯一具有统计学意义的趋势是，比较枪支法实施前后的死亡人数，男性与枪支相关的自杀人数有所增加。该研究包括两起使用特殊武器自杀的报告：一支自制的管式枪和一支鱼枪。
