Firearm fatalities in Edirne, 1984-1997

Azmak D., ALTUN G., BİLGİ S., YILMAZ A.

Forensic Science International, cilt.95, sa.3, ss.231-239, 1998 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 95 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 1998
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/s0379-0738(98)00101-7
  • Dergi Adı: Forensic Science International
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.231-239
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Accident, Firearm deaths, Homicide, Suicide, Wound
  • Trakya Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

During the 14-year period from 1984 to 1997 there were 85 firearm fatalities investigated by the Department of Forensic Medicine and the Department of Pathology in Edirne, Turkey. We determined the characteristics of these 85 firearm deaths which comprised 17.03% of all medicolegal autopsies. The overall incidence was 1.58 per 100,000 population. The median age was 35.5 years. Fifty-four percent of the victims were aged between 20 and 40 years. Males constituted 82% of the victims. The most frequent manner of death was homicide (68.3%). Handguns accounted for 52.4% of the weapons used. The most common sites for the firearm entrance wounds were both head-neck-nape (32.8%) and chest (32%). In conclusion, our study shows that, in spite of legal restrictions, illegal access to firearms is easy and deaths by firearms are still increasing.