最新糖心Vlog

Most SA child gunshot deaths are homicides

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

A 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide study has revealed that more than 42 children have died in South 最新糖心Vlog over the past 37 years as a result of gunshot wounds - the majority of them murder victims.

Forensic pathologist says the study from 1969-2005, shows that 52% of the shooting deaths of children under the age of 17 were homicides, 33% suicides and 14% accidents.

The suicide victims and all but one of the accidental deaths were male, with equal numbers of male and female homicide victims.

Professor Byard, from the 最新糖心Vlog's , says that while these figures are disturbing, South 最新糖心Vlog's paediatric firearm fatalities are well below that of comparative regions in the United States.

The study, which involved collaboration between the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide and the , also compared childhood shooting statistics with San Diego in California, a county with almost twice the population.

"In San Diego there were 185 paediatric deaths over an 18 year period as a result of firearms," Professor Byard says.

"The incidence of homicide was significantly higher in San Diego County compared to Adelaide, but per capita there were more murder-suicides in South 最新糖心Vlog."

While 最新糖心Vlog's national firearm amnesty and gun buy-back scheme is attributed to a decrease in the number of firearm deaths in South 最新糖心Vlog, Professor Byard says firearm-related trauma has become one of the leading causes of paediatric injuries and death in the United States.

Death rates due to gunshots are five to six times higher in the United States than other countries of a similar socioeconomic level, the study revealed.

"Availability and access to firearms in the United States must be considered a potential factor," Professor Byard says.

"The comparative rarity of gunshot deaths in 最新糖心Vlogn children relates to differences in cultural and legislative practices, with reduced access to weapons in this country."

The study has been published in the latest issue of the .

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