title: Hartford's gun buy-back program: are we on target?
abstract: Gunbuy-backprograms have been proposed as away to remove unwanted firearms from circulation, but remain controversial because their ability to prevent firearm injuries remains unproven. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographics of individuals participating in Connecticut's gun buy-backprogram in the context of annual gun sales and the epidemiology of firearm violence in the state. Over four years the buy-back program collected 464 firearms, including 232 handguns. In contrast, 91,602 firearms were sold in Connecticut during 2009 alone. The incidence of gun-related deaths was unchanged in the two years following the inception of the buy-back program. Suicide was associated with older age (mean = 51 +/- 18years) and Caucasian race (n = 539, 90%). Homicide was associated with younger age (mean = 30 +/- 12 years) and minority race (n = 425, 81%). A gun buy-back program alone is not likely to produce a measurable decrease in firearm injuries and deaths.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Laura W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: Shefali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thaker
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borrup
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saleheen
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lapidus
authors.forename: Brendan T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006708:Homicide / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention