ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed to examine the deaths related to the firearm injuries during childhood in Konya and the infor-mation such as demographic aspects of the cases, the types of the firearms, origin, and the region of injury, place of case, pla-ce of death, shooting distance, and the owner of the firearm.

With this purpose, the cases which were autopsied by Konya Branch of Forensic Medicine Council and by forensic medi-cine expert in the districts of Konya between 1999 and 2007 were retrospectively examined. Among 985 death cases at the age of 18 and under; 50 (5.1%) were determined to occur as a result of firearm injuries. The ages of the cases changed between 1 and 18 and the average age was 14.6±3.9 (median: 16). 34 cases (68%) were boys while 16 (32%) of them were girls. The rate of boys to girls was 2.1:1. The origin was suici-de in 20 cases (40%), accident in 17 cases (34%) and 13 cases (26%) was murder. Shotguns were used in 33 cases (66%) and handguns were use in 17 cases (34%). Only head was injured in 27 cases (54%) while only abdominal region was injured in 10 cases (20%). 29 (70%) of firearm injuries took place at home. 35 cases (70%) died at crime scene and 3 of them (6%) died on the way to hospital. In 24 cases (48%) the shooting was performed adjacently or from a close distant, the shooting were performed from nearby in 11 cases (22%) while 15 shooting cases (30%) were performed from a long distance. In 24 (48%) cases, the gun belonged to the victim’s father.

As a result, it was seen that keeping the firearms at homes in the increasing rates would end up with deaths during the child-hood age. We think it is necessary and useful for people to avo-id from keeping firearms at home or other living quarters, ke-ep them in higher places or under strong locking when they ha-ve to since they could lead to suicide or accident originated in-juries or deaths if the children easily access to the firearms.

Keywords: Child, firearm, death, forensic medicine