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Gunshot wounds: bullet caliber is increasing
R P Caruso1, D I Jara, K G Swan
1Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
The Journal of Trauma
|March 24, 1999
Summary
Gunshot wound research reveals a concerning trend: firearm ammunition caliber has significantly increased over time. This rise in larger bullets impacts trauma cases, homicides, and suicides.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Ballistics Analysis
- Public Health Trends
Background:
- Gunshot wound incidence has risen over the last two decades.
- A perceived increase in ammunition size was noted at a Level I trauma center.
- The study aimed to document trends in ammunition caliber using autopsy and surgical pathology data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically analyze changes in bullet caliber over a 16-year period.
- To investigate the trend of increasing firearm caliber in relation to gunshot wounds.
- To correlate findings with autopsy data on bullet size descriptions.
Main Methods:
- Bullet measurements from surgical pathology archives (1981-1997).
- Statistical analysis using linear regression and ANOVA for bullet caliber data.
- Review of autopsy reports (1981-1997) categorizing bullet size as small, medium, or large.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in mean bullet caliber over time (r=0.944, p<0.0001).
- Autopsy data showed a significant rise in large-caliber projectiles and a decrease in small-caliber ones (p<0.001).
- Exclusion of deformed bullets and shotgun wounds ensured focus on projectile caliber trends.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies an alarming trend of increasing firearm caliber usage.
- This trend is evident across accidental, homicide, and suicide-related gunshot incidents.
- Findings highlight a shift towards larger caliber firearms in violent and accidental events.