FACT: In 2009 there were 1,058 gun deaths in the State of Illinois, a 2% increase from 2006 Illinois gun deaths 1,036. The 2009 Illinois gun deaths included 628 homicides (nearly 60% of all IL gun deaths), 402 suicides (38% of all IL gun deaths), and 14 unintentional shootings, 10 legal intervention, and none reported with undetermined intent.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012.)

FACT: In 2009, there were 31,347 gun deaths in the U.S, a increase from the 2006 total of 31,224: 11,493 homicides (37% of total gun deaths), 18,735 suicides (60% of total gun deaths), 554 unintentional shootings (2% of total gun deaths), 333 from legal intervention (1% of total gun deaths) and 232 from undetermined intent (.7% of total gun deaths).

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012.)

FACT: In 2009, incidents of gun murders, gun suicides, and unintentional shootings in Illinois killed 154 children and adolescents ages 19 and younger, which represents the same as the 2006 total of 154 in this age group. Nationwide for 2009, gun violence killed 2,811 American children and teens ages 19 and under, this means that in the U.S. an average of almost 8 young people are killed each day by guns.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012.)

FACT: Suicide is still the leading cause of firearm death in the U.S., representing 60% of total 2009 gun deaths nationwide. In 2009, the U.S. firearm suicide total was 18,735, an increase from 2006 total of 16,883 gun suicides. Total gun suicides in Illinois for 2007 were 402, an increase of 8% from the 2006 number 372. Over half of suicides in the U.S. are committed with firearms.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012; and the American Association of Suicidology.)

FACT: While handguns account for only one-third of all firearms owned in the United States, they account for more than two-thirds of all firearm-related deaths each year. A gun in the home is 4 times more likely to be involved in an unintentional shooting, 7 times more likely to be used to commit a criminal assault or homicide, and 11 times more likely to be used to attempt or commit suicide than to be used in self-defense.

(A Kellerman, et al. Journal of Trauma, August 1998; Kellerman AL, Lee RK, Mercy JA, et al. “The Epidemiological Basis for the Prevention of Firearm Injuries.” Annu.Rev Public Health. 1991; 12:17-40.)

FACT: A gun in the home increases the risk of homicide of a household member by 3 times and the risk of suicide by 5 times compared to homes where no gun is present.

(Kellerman AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, et al. “Suicide in the Home in Relation to Gun Ownership.” NEJM. 1992; 327(7):467-472)

FACT: Despite popular belief, young children do possess the physical strength to fire a gun: 25% of 3-to-4-year-olds, 70% of 5-to-6-year-olds, and 90% of 7-to-8-year-olds can fire most handguns.

(Naureckas, SM, Christoffel, KK, et al. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 1995.)

FACT: 48% of gun-owning households with children do NOT regularly make sure that guns are equipped with child safety locks or other trigger locks.

(Peter Hart Research Associates poll, 1999.)

FACT: 59% of students in grades six through twelve know where to get a gun if they want one, and two thirds of these students say they can acquire a firearm within 24 hours.

(Harvard School of Public Health.)

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FACT: In 2009, incidents of gun murders, gun suicides, and unintentional shootings in Illinois killed 154 children and adolescents ages 19 and younger, which was the same as the 2006 total of 154 in this age group.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012)

FACT: Nationwide for 2009, gun violence killed 2,811 American children and teens ages 19 and under, a decrease of over 12% from the nationwide 2006 total of 3,218. The total number of children killed in 2009 included 1,855 homicides, 800 suicides, 114 unintentional, 1 legal intervention, and 1 undetermined intent. This means that an average of almost 8 young people are killed each day by guns in the U.S.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012)

FACT: In 2009, a total of 800 young Americans ages 10-19 committed suicide with firearms, increase of 5% from the 2006 total of 763 youth gun suicides. Unlike suicide attempts using other methods, 92% of suicide attempts with guns are fatal, meaning a temporarily depressed teenager will never get a second chance at life.

(CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012; Wintemute, et. al., “The Choice of Weapons in Firearm Suicides,” American Journal of Public Health, Vol 78, No. 7, July 1988, p. 824)

FACT: The firearms used by American youth ages 19 and younger in 90% of firearm suicide attempts and completions, and in 72% unintentional firearm deaths and injuries, were stored in the residence of the victim, their relative, or their friend. On average, 68% of suicides for youth ages 15-24 are committed with guns.

(Grossman, DC, Reay DR, Baker SA. “Self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and adolescents: the source of the firearm.” Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, August 1999;153:875-8; American Association of Suicidology, Washington, DC, 1998)

FACT: In 2009, the national gun death rate for African-American males ages 15 to 19 was 55.3 per 100,000, a large disparity compared to white males of the same age (13.2 per 100,000). For black males ages 20-24, the gun death rate was even higher at 93 per 100,000, an even greater disparity compared to white males of the same age group (20 per 100,000).

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012)

FACT: 48% of gun-owning households with children do NOT regularly make sure that their guns are equipped with child safety locks or other trigger locks.

(Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999)

FACT: Contrary to popular belief, young children do possess the physical strength to fire a gun: 25% of 3 to 4 year olds, 70% of 5 to 6 year olds, and 90% of 7 to 8 year olds can fire most handguns.

(Naureckas, SM, Christoffel, KK, et al. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 1995)

FACT: More than 3,500 students were expelled in 1998-99 for bringing guns to school. Of these, 43% were in elementary or junior high school. This means that, in a 40-week school year, an average of 88 children per week nationwide are expelled for bringing a gun in school. These figures include only the children who get caught.

(U.S. Department of Education. Report on State Implementation of the Gun-Free Schools Act: School Year 1998-99. October 2000, p.2)

FACT: Results from the 2009 Centers for Disease Control National Youth Risk Behavior Study (YRBS) indicated that over 17% of high school students had reported carrying a weapon within 30 days prior to the survey, of which 5.9% reported carrying a gun. In addition, approximately 5.6% of all high school students reported carrying a weapon on school property within 30 days prior to the survey, and 7.7% reported that they had been threatened with a weapon on school property.

(Numbers obtained from the Centers for Disease Control mortality report online, June 4, 2010.)

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FACT: Suicide is still the leading cause of firearm death in the U.S. In 2009, the U.S. firearm suicide total was 18,735 an 11% increase from the 2006 national gun suicide number of 16,883. The State of Illinois saw a 13.7% INCREASE in gun suicides from 372 in 2006 to 402 in 2009. Over half of suicides in the U.S. are committed with firearms.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012. The most recent year for which the data is currently available is 2007.)

FACT: More than half of all suicides in the U.S. are committed with firearms. In 2009, 51% of all suicides in the U.S. were committed with guns. Firearm suicides represented 34% of all suicides committed in Illinois for 2007.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012)

FACT: In 2009, a total of 800 young Americans ages 10-19 committed suicide with firearms, an increase of 5% from the 2006 total of 763 youth gun suicides. Unlike suicide attempts using other methods, suicide attempts with guns are nearly always fatal, meaning a temporarily depressed teenager will never get a second chance at life. Nearly two-thirds of all completed teenage suicides involve a firearm.

(Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2012.)

FACT: Access to lethal means, especially firearms, greatly increases the likelihood that someone will commit suicide. A gun in the home is 11 times more likely to be used to attempt or commit a suicide than to be used in self-defense.

(Arthur Kellerman, Journal of Trauma, August 1998)

FACT: Homes with guns are 5 times more likely to experience the suicide of a household member than homes without guns.

(Kellerman AL, Rivara FP, Somes G et al. “Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership.” New England Journal of Medicine, 1992;327:467-72)

FACT: On average, 68% of suicides for youth ages 15-24 are committed with guns.

(American Association of Suicidology, Washington, DC, 1998; John McIntosh, 1995 Statistical Training Aides)

FACT: Unlike suicide attempts using other methods, 92% of suicide attempts with guns are fatal, meaning a temporarily depressed teenager will never get a second chance at life.

(Wintemute, et. al., “The Choice of Weapons in Firearm Suicides,” American Journal of Public Health, Vol 78, No. 7, July 1988, p. 824)

FACT: 48% of gun-owning households with children do NOT regularly make sure that guns are equipped with child safety locks or other trigger locks.

(Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, July 1999)

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