Elsevier

Forensic Science International

Volume 23, Issues 2–3, November–December 1983, Pages 93-98
Forensic Science International

Original paper
Firearms fatalities in Denmark 1970–1979

https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(83)90137-8Get rights and content

Abstract

In the 10-year period from 1970 to 1979 933 firearm fatalities occurred in Denmark which represent an increase of 45% during a little more than 10 years. Eighty-eight per cent were suicides, 8% homicides, and 4% accidents. Accidental shootings have decreased from 8% to 4% and the fall seems to be a result of fewer accidents in connection with hunting, probably due to a more restrictive legislation about hunting.

An increasing share of the total number of deaths, now responsible for 57% of the fatalities, are by shotgun. There has been a remarkable increase in the use of sawn-off long barreled weapons.

Still considering the marked increase of firearm fatalities, fatal shootings are of very limited importance in Denmark, especially homicidal shootings of which there are 2–3 per year. Shotguns are at the present time the only procurable dangerous weapons which have led to an increased share of the total firearm fatalities. Restrictions in the use of shotguns during hunting seem to have had positive effects on the reduction of hunting accidents. As mentioned above, the most valuable method of bringing the firearm fatalities under further control seems to be increased control over the procurement and possession of shotguns.

References (1)

Cited by (40)

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    Accidental firearm deaths account for only a small fraction of all firearm fatalities in both the United States and Europe (Krug et al., 1998; Richardson and Hemenway, 2011). The reported annual incidence of accidental firearm fatalities during hunting varies between 0.2 and 1.6 per million population, and this incidence difference is attributed to different cultural and social settings (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1996; Cole and Patetta, 1988; Copeland, 1984; Hardt-Madsen and Simonsen, 1983; Harruff, 1992; Junuzovic and Eriksson, 2011; Örnehult and Eriksson, 1987). Sweden has a low annual incidence of 1.9 hunting deaths per year but hunting fatalities account for 53% of all accidental firearm fatalities in Sweden (Junuzovic and Eriksson, 2011).

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