In 1991, deaths from suicide and homicide combined were the third leading cause of years of potential life lost before age 65 (YPLL-65) in the United States. Firearms were used in 60.1% of all suicides, in 67.8% of all homicides, and in less than 2.0% of unintentional injury deaths. Firearm-related death rates increased during the late 1980s, particularly among adolescents and young adults. To characterize trends in premature mortality attributed to firearm-related injuries, annual mortality data were analyzed for 1980-1991 (the most recent years for which complete data were available). This report summarizes the results of the analysis.