BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Most victims of nonfatal shootings in crimes are black
WASHINGTON, 04/11/96, Associated Press - A study of nonfatal shootings resultingfrom crimes shows that, as with murders, most victims are black and manyare teen-agers.
The Justice Department study using data from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention also found that 58% of firearm injuries resulted from assaults.Crimes account for fewer than half of firearm deaths.
The CDC data on gun-related injuries came from 91 hospital emergency roomsaround the country in the year beginning June 1, 1992. While the FBI andothers track murders committed nationwide, no national registry exists fornonfatal shootings related to crime. The Justice Department's Bureau ofJustice Statistics prepared the report.
It found that hospitals treated 99,000 nonfatal wounds in the one-year period,of which 58% resulted from assaults. One shooting in five was accidental,and 5% resulted from suicide attempts. The cause was unknown in 16% of cases.
The Justice Department says 47% of the 37,776 firearm deaths in 1992 resultedfrom homicide or legal use of firearms such as self-defense or police activity.Of the rest, 48% were suicides and 4% accidental shootings.
An FBI survey of murders that year found that 53% of the victims were black,and 38% were 15-24 years old.
Of those suffering gunshot wounds....
"One of the saving graces is that a lot of kids aren't great shots,"said Susan Glick of the Violence Policy Center on the high percentage ofgun crimes committed by young assailants that result in nonfatal wounds."That will change with improved technology."
The report cited a 1995 study estimating that costs per survivor of a gunshotwound, in terms of medical care, lost productivity and reduced quality oflife, averaged $260,000. Many young victims of gun-related crimes have nohealth insurance.
The report also found: