Mole Guns in Turkey in 2003–2005

Abstract

This study describes the frequency of mole guns in Turkey by examining the cases sent to the Council of Forensic Medicine of Turkey between 2003 and 2005. In total, 11 mole guns were examined. Mole guns are manufactured to be used as a trap against detrimental animals. Although they are not meant to be used as a firearm, they are able to cause death. Mole guns appearing in regular casework were evaluated in terms of type of the gun, number of barrels, size and caliber, rifling, design, mechanism, fitness for use, legality, and geographical distribution. Ninety-one percent of the guns were 12 gauge. Most commonly they originate from Inner Anatolia. Mole guns are typically handmade. Some examples of injuries and deaths caused by mole guns are also offered.

Homemade Firearm Suicide With Dumbbell Pipe Triggering by an Air-Compressed Gun

“…The use of pen guns and handmade guns (such as pistols) is frequently reported in cases of injuries resulting from attempted homicides. 14,15,22 These devices have been observed for short-range firing only. 14,15,18 Zip guns and improvised firearms of this type are small and can frequently be disguised as a pen gun or a cell phone gun.…”

“…The professional misuse of tools, such as mole gun suicides or accidents (eg, among farmers), has been reported. 15,19 Pen gun cases have been reported, 11,15,17 and cases of suicide with a homemade tube triggered by a hammer have also been reported. 6,16,27 Despite the variability of homemade firearms, these studies indicate several common features.…”

“…For example, the use of adapted mole guns in suicides and accidents has been reported. 15,19 Mole guns are uncommon firearms with an identified linked trigger system and barrel. No homicides have been reported with this type of firearm, likely because of the large size of these weapons, the difficulty of hiding them, and the difficulty of obtaining them.…”

“…7 However, homemade firearms and the wounds they cause are uncommon, and only a dozen cases have been reported in the last 20 years. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The present study focuses on an unusual case of suicide using a homemade and improvised firearm made with an original combination of a trigger (an air-compressed pellet gun) and a pipe (an iron dumbbell pipe). The second part of this study compares the reported case with the forensic literature concerning firearm suicide epidemiology, homemade gun features, and the features associated with suicidal (complex or not) versus homicidal use.…”

A different form of trauma: Injury by a mole gun

“…Firearms used by individuals engaged in agriculture to combat rodents, moles in particular, produced under primitive local conditions and with poor operator safety, can lead to user injury from time to time. [1] These injuries generally arise from accidents involving the construction, firing or carrying of the weapon, and can also have fatal consequences. [2] There have been previous case reports of injuries inflicted with similar weapons for the purposes of suicide or as a trap for thieves.…”