Firearm-related assaults on Los Angeles roadways

Article Abstract:

A popular misconception is that firearm assaults in Los Angeles County occur largely on freeways, however this study demonstrates that most firearm attacks occur on city streets. Although the attacks occurred more frequently outside of the time of maximum traffic congestion of rush hours (69 percent), there was still a correlation between traffic congestion and incidents involving firearms. The rate of occurrence of firearm attacks on city streets and on freeways increased during the period of study (the summer of 1987) compared to a similar period of the preceding year. A total of 137 incidents involving firearms occurred in Los Angeles County during the study period, and 61 percent involved discharge of the weapon. Twenty percent of the shootings resulted in injuries, including two deaths. Although conspicuous and demanding of media attention, highway shootings represent a very small fraction of physical attacks. The strong emotional reaction of the public to these events indicates that continued monitoring of these events is appropriate.

Analysis, Statistics, California, Los Angeles, California, Crime, Gunshot wounds, Los Angeles

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Physical abuse among high school students: prevalence and correlation with other health behaviors

Article Abstract:

Physical abuse appears to be a common problem among high school students, and its occurrence is associated with behaviorial problems. A group of 1,957 Oregon high school students at 25 schools responded to a survey. One-third of girls and 28% of boys reported having been physically abused, which was defined as having been hit, kicked, or struck with an object. Four percent reported abuse in the past week, 8% in the past month, and 16% in the past year. Students reporting abuse were 1.6 times to over three times more likely to report the following: low self-esteem, to have carried a weapon, to have had a physical fight, to have entertained serious thoughts of suicide, to be smokers, drinkers, or users of marijuana or cocaine, to have been sexually abused, to have had sex, to have had three or more sexual partners over their lifetime, and to have been pregnant or to have impregnated a girl.

Health aspects, Behavior, High school students, Abused children, Corporal punishment

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Population estimates of household firearm storage practices and firearm carrying in Oregon

Article Abstract:

An estimated 3.3 million US children live in households where a weapon is stored improperly. This figure was extrapolated from the Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which interviewed 6,202 people in 1992-93. Based on this survey, over half of Oregon residents have a weapon in their house. Ten percent of Oregon residents store the weapon loaded and unlocked some or all of the time. An estimated 40,180 Oregon children younger than 18 live in households with an improperly stored weapon. Factors associated with unsafe weapon storage included male sex, age less than 65, rural residence, white race and no college degree. Those who drank alcohol were more likely to store a weapon improperly. Four percent of Oregonians carried a loaded weapon on them in the month before the survey.

Surveys, Oregon, Firearms ownership

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