How many Californians were seriously injured with firearms each year?  Figure 1 - PDF (5k)

• An average of 4,420 people were killed with firearms each year from 1991-99.
• Firearm deaths peaked at 5,438 in 1993 and then declined to 3,009 in 1999, the lowest annual total of any year on record (since 1977).
• This variation is due almost entirely to changes in the number of firearm homicides.

How do firearm deaths compare to motor vehicle traffic deaths?  Figure 2 - PDF (8k)

• Prior to 1990 (from 1977 through 1989), 69,370 Californians died in motor vehicle traffic collisions compared to 50,525 from firearms, for an annual average of 5,336 traffic deaths and 3,887 firearm deaths.
• From 1991 through 1999, 35,392 Californians died in motor vehicle traffic collisions (averaging 3,932 per year), compared to 39,781 from firearms (averaging 4,420 per year). In 1998, firearm injury deaths dipped below motor vehicle traffic deaths for the first year since 1991. In 1999, motor vehicle traffic deaths dipped back down below firearm injury deaths.

Which is more common, firearm homicide or firearm suicide?  Figure 3 - PDF (5k)

• Since 1991, firearm homicides have outnumbered firearm suicides in California. From 1991-1999: 54% of firearm deaths were homicides. 41% of firearm deaths were suicides. 2% of firearm deaths were unintentional gun injuries. 1998 was the first year since 1988 that firearm suicides outnumbered firearm homicides. In 1999, this pattern continued.

What percent of homicides (Figure 4 - PDF (5k)) and suicides (Figure 5 - PDF (5k)) involve a firearm?

• From 1991-99, 73% of all homicides were committed with a firearm and 52% of all suicides were committed with a firearm.

How lethal are firearms?

Of serious injuries (deaths and nonfatal hospitalizations) from 1991-99:

• 9 out of 10 suicide attempts with a firearm were fatal, compared to 1 of 10 suicide attempts by other means.
• 1 of 3 firearm assaults were fatal, compared to 1 of 14 assaults by other means.
• 1 of 11 unintentional gunshots were fatal, compared to 1 of 21 unintentional injuries by other means.