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Charles C. Branas, Therese S. Richmond, Dennis P. Culhane, Thomas R. Ten Have, and Douglas J. Wiebe.  Investigating the Link Between Gun Possession and Gun Assault. American Journal of Public Health: November 2009, Vol. 99, No. 11, pp. 2034-2040.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.143099

Accepted on: Feb 7, 2009

Investigating the Link Between Gun Possession and Gun Assault

Charles C. Branas, PhD, Therese S. Richmond, PhD, CRNP, Dennis P. Culhane, PhD, Thomas R. Ten Have, PhD, MPH, and Douglas J. Wiebe, PhD

Charles C. Branas and Douglas J. Wiebe are with the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Firearm and Injury Center at Penn, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. Therese S. Richmond is with the Division of Biobehavioral and Health Sciences, Firearm and Injury Center at Penn, and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia. Dennis P. Culhane is with the Cartographic Modeling Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, Philadelphia. Thomas R. Ten Have is with the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

Correspondence should be sent to Charles C. Branas, PhD, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Room 936 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021 (e-mail: ). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the “Reprints/Eprints” link.

Peer Reviewed

Contributors

C. C. Branas originated the study idea, oversaw the implementation of the study, and analyzed the data. T. S. Richmond and D. P. Culhane advised the study's implementation and analyses. T. R. Ten Have and D. J. Wiebe advised the study's implementation and analyzed the data. All authors wrote this article.


ABSTRACT

Objectives. We investigated the possible relationship between being shot in an assault and possession of a gun at the time.

Methods. We enrolled 677 case participants that had been shot in an assault and 684 population-based control participants within Philadelphia, PA, from 2003 to 2006. We adjusted odds ratios for confounding variables.

Results. After adjustment, individuals in possession of a gun were 4.46 (P < .05) times more likely to be shot in an assault than those not in possession. Among gun assaults where the victim had at least some chance to resist, this adjusted odds ratio increased to 5.45 (P < .05).

Conclusions. On average, guns did not protect those who possessed them from being shot in an assault. Although successful defensive gun uses occur each year, the probability of success may be low for civilian gun users in urban areas. Such users should reconsider their possession of guns or, at least, understand that regular possession necessitates careful safety countermeasures.

Cited by

Kate C.  Prickett, Alexa  Martin-Storey, Robert  Crosnoe. (2014) State Firearm Laws, Firearm Ownership, and Safety Practices Among Families of Preschool-Aged Children. American Journal of Public Health 104:6, 1080-1086.
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2014.
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Charles C.  Branas, Therese S.  Richmond, Dennis P.  Culhane, Thomas R.  Ten Have, Douglas J.  Wiebe. (2011) BRANAS ET AL. RESPOND. American Journal of Public Health 100:6, 968-969.
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2010.
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Garen  Wintemute. (2011) FLAWS IN STUDY OF FIREARM POSSESSION AND RISK FOR ASSAULT. American Journal of Public Health 100:6, 967-968.
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2010.
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