Firearm deaths in Canadian adolescents and young adults

This article describes the problem of firearm deaths among Canadians aged 15-24 years. It is based on data obtained from Statistics Canada, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department, and the Canadian Department of Justice. Firearms are the third leading cause of death in this age group, accounting for 276 deaths in 1990, after motor vehicle accidents (997) and non-firearm suicides (358). Some 23% of Canadian homes contain a firearm; the average number of firearms per home is 2.67. Medical and public health professionals are urged to work toward prevention by educating patients and families about the risks of a firearm in the home and by supporting legislation to decrease the availability of firearms to young people.