Reducing Firearm Injury and Death: A Public Health Sourcebook on Guns

The Association of Firearm Caliber With Likelihood of Death From Gunshot Injury in Criminal Assaults

“…11 ) It is widely accepted among medical and public health professionals that the likelihood of death in an assault increases with the power of the gun. 2,3,[6][7][8]12 But that belief is routinely challenged by advocates and some social scientists in the national debate over gun regulation. 13,14 The opposing view holds that it is not the type of weapon that determines whether the victim lives or dies, but rather the intent of the assailant.…”

“…In this view, an assailant who is determined to kill will do what is necessary to accomplish that purpose, regardless of weapon type. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] As a logical corollary, the 1 in 6 who die from a gun assault differ from those who survive with respect to the shooter's intent and determination. In effect, the criminal law and the courts conform with this view by treating a fatal shooting as a more serious crime than a nonfatal shooting.…”

“…The contrary view is that the caliber of the gun is simply a reflection of the assailant's determination to kill, with little independent influence on the probability of death. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The importance of instrumentality in the gun debate is illustrated by findings from a recent survey of experts by the RAND Corporation. Respondents were asked to estimate the effect on the overall homicide rate of a policy that was successful in reducing the firearms homicide rate.…”