GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA - AN ANALYSIS OF 2018 CDC DATA

While gun death data are the most reliable type of gun violence data currently available (and are the focus of this report), it is important to emphasize that gun deaths are only the tip of the iceberg of gun violence. [...] Increases in both homicide and suicide rates contributed to the overall change over the course of the decade; in that time period, the firearm homicide rate increased nearly 17% (from 3.80 to 4.44 firearm homicides per 100,000, respectively) and the firearm suicide rate increased 19% (from 5.92 to 7.04 firearm suicides per 100,000, respectively). [...] On average, more than 38 people were murdered by firearm every day in 2018.    The number and rate of firearm homicides has increased over the decade (the firearm homicide rate increased 17% from 2009-2018, from 3.80 to 4.44 firearm homicides per 100,000 people, respectively); however, 2018 is the first year since 2014 where the firearm homicide rate has decreased from the previous year. [...] The reported conditions are then translated into medical codes through use of the classification structure and the selection and modification rules contained in the applicable revision of the ICD, published by the World Health Organization (WHO).  Legal Intervention: Injuries inflicted by the police or other law-enforcing agents, including military on duty, in the course of arresting or attempting. [...] The ICD-10 cause of death codes for firearm suicide are X72 Intentional self-harm by handgun discharge; X73 Intentional self-harm by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge; and X74 Intentional self-harm by other and unspecified firearm and gun discharge.