Public Health Association of Australia: Policy-at-a-glance Firearms Injuries Policy Key message: PHAA advocates that: 1. The Commonwealth, in conjunction with State and Territory governments, should address the identified risk factors for intentional firearm injury, recognising in particular the need: for preventive mental health services (including suicide prevention); for greater efforts to prevent domestic violence; to develop initiatives to support men s health and wellbeing; and to address motivations for firearm use in violent crime. 2. Governments should also investigate means through which to reduce the number of firearms in the community and firearms which enter the illegal market in Australia, placing particular emphasis on understanding means through which firearms used in homicides and other violent crimes are obtained. Summary: Reductions in firearm related deaths can be achieved through the combined use of a range of strategies, including regulatory frameworks, education, comprehensive suicide prevention programs, accessible social and health services, and targeted crime reduction efforts. The greatest potential to reduce firearm related deaths in Australia lies in the prevention of suicides. Audience: Federal, State and Territory Governments, policy makers and program managers. Responsibility: PHAA s Injury Prevention Special Interest Group (SIG). Date policy adopted: September 2015 Contacts: Richard Franklin & Lyndal Budeja, Co-Convenors, Injury Prevention SIG richard.franklin@jcu.edu.au; lyndal.c.bugeja@coronerscourt.vic.gov.au 20 Napier Close Deakin ACT Australia 2600 PO Box 319 Curtin ACT Australia 2605
Firearms Injuries Policy See also related policies on: Mental Health; Domestic and Family Violence; Health Inequities; Illicit Drugs and Alcohol. The Public Health Association of Australia notes that: 1. In 2014, there were 230 registered deaths related to firearms in Australia 1 accounting for 2% of total deaths from external causes (n=9,840) 1, including all injury types (including suicides and assaults) 1. There were 2,864 recorded suicides in Australia of which 178 (6.2%) involved firearms 1. There were 235 deaths due to assault, 31 of which (13%) involved firearms. 1 2. Suicide accounted for 77% of the firearm related deaths in 2014, with homicide accounting for 13%. There were 3 deaths (1%) recorded as unintentional (i.e., accidental discharge of firearms). The rest of the 18 deaths (7%) were classified as undetermined. 1 3. In 2014 men accounted for 91% of all firearm deaths, with 81% of all male firearm deaths being from suicide. 1 4. Although suicide rates among middle aged and older Australians have decreased since the 1980s, older people are more likely to use firearms, compared to younger persons, with rates typically highest, on average, among persons aged 70 and over. 2 5. Firearm death rates remain higher in rural and remote regions than in urban areas, reflecting the higher overall rates of suicide in rural and remote regions. 3 6. In 2014, the majority of firearm suicides (72%) involved a rifle or shotgun, followed by other/unspecified firearms and handguns. 1 7. In 2014, firearms were involved in 13% of all assault-related deaths and 9% of female assault-related deaths. 1 8. Homicides involving firearms have been declining since the late 1980 s. From 1989-90 over 25% of all homicides involved firearms by 2011-12 this had reduced to 16% comparatively homicides involving knives has remained at approximately 30% over the same time period. 4 9. Over the period 2000/2001 to 2007/2008, on average, 91% of firearms used to commit homicide were unregistered, and 88% of offenders were unlicensed. 4-12 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics Causes of Death data are subject to revision. 20 Napier Close Deakin ACT Australia 2600 PO Box 319 Curtin ACT Australia 2605 2
10. Of firearm homicides in 2010/2012, 54% occurred between friends and acquaintances, and a further 28% between intimate partners. Fewer than 17% involved strangers. 4 11. There is a lack of up to date, published information about the incidence of firearms use in intimate partner violence in Australia, and the legal status of those firearms. 12. While firearm related homicides have been declining since the 1980s, 1, 13, 14 the proportion of firearm homicides involving handguns (which for reporting purposes includes illegally shortened or sawn off firearms) has increased. 11 13. Firearm laws are the responsibility of state governments. Since 1996 all jurisdictions subscribe to the 10 point National Agreement on Firearms (NAF), instituted through the Australian Police Ministers Council. Key resolutions included banning military style automatic and semi-automatic firearms, introducing registration for all firearms, tightening licensing procedures, implementing stricter storage requirements, and requiring all sales to be conducted by or through licensed firearms dealers. Since 1996 it has been reported that 948,388 firearms were surrendered under Commonwealth Government funded firearms buyback schemes. 27 A number of peer-reviewed studies have evaluated the impacts of the 1996 buyback scheme and legislative changes. None of those studies has found statistical evidence for an impact of the legislative changes on firearm homicide. 15, 16, and 20,21,24,25 There are inconsistent findings regarding impacts of the legislative changes on firearm suicide, with some studies 15-23, 25 finding an effect and other studies finding little or no impact. 14. Subsequent government action from 2002 has included the National Handgun Agreement (NHA) and the National Firearms Trafficking Policy Agreement (NFTPA). The Public Health Association of Australia believes that: 15. Firearm injuries occur due to a combination of the availability of firearms, motivation for use and community attitudes, as well as broader social, environmental, and economic factors. 16. Reductions in firearm related deaths can be achieved through the combined use of a range of strategies, including regulatory frameworks, education, comprehensive suicide prevention programs, accessible social and health services, and targeted crime reduction efforts. 15-27 17. The greatest potential to reduce firearm related deaths in Australia, particularly among males, lies in the prevention of suicides. For females, in addition to suicide prevention efforts, there is value in ensuring that perpetrators of intimate partner/interpersonal violence, do not possess firearms. The Public Health Association of Australia resolves that: 18. A range of programs is required to address the risk factors for intentional and unintentional use of firearms causing injury, including community education and targeted strategies to enforce licensing and 20 Napier Close Deakin ACT Australia 2600 PO Box 319 Curtin ACT Australia 2605 3
secure storage, as well as broader social services and programs aimed at suicide prevention, and efforts to reduce driving factors for illicit firearm use and firearm violence. 19. The design of such programs should be informed by robust scientific evidence, be closely targeted to and developed in partnership with groups most at risk, and be subject to rigorous evaluation. 20. Ongoing effort and the investment of resources by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments is required to improve the quality, availability and dissemination of data to inform firearms injury prevention in Australia, including: - where possible, information on death certificates should include the type of firearm used, as per World Health Organisation ICD-10 categories. - publishing information about the source/s of firearms used in crimes. - publishing statistics around firearm-related injury cases presenting to hospitals. - reviewing current processes and systems for registering firearms - publishing information on the legal status of firearms used in domestic homicides 21. Address the flow of firearms into the community (both legal and illegal), this would include: - Improving the storage of firearms to reduced their ability to be stolen and used by those without a licence. Such as fixing the gun safe so they are harder to be removed from the premise, adding an alarm system to the house, storage in a different location the ammunition and firing mechanism from the firearm - Enforcement -Ensuring that the firearms are stored according to the law and where possible moving where stored to a secure facility like a police station, ensuring that people who hold firearms, also hold a licence, ensuring that the sale of firearms is recorded and the person who purchases the firearm is licenced. This include ensuring the 28 day cooling off period is used for all purchase of firearms and that people are over the age of 18 years. - Recording of stolen firearms and working across jurisdictions to follow and remove these firearms from the community. - Ensuring that people who own firearms only own the number they require and exploring a maximum number which can be stored at a home or business (not related to those which are related to law enforcement) to reduce the number of firearms which could potentially enter the illegal market from a household. - An ongoing amnesty / buyback to remove firearms from the community. 20 Napier Close Deakin ACT Australia 2600 PO Box 319 Curtin ACT Australia 2605 4
- Consistent application of firearm legislation across all states and territories to ensure that there is a strong consistent response to firearms in Australia. The Public Health Association of Australia through the Injury Prevention Special Interest Group, in collaboration with National Office and State and Territory Branches advocates that: 22. Recognising the need for appropriate and cost-effective investment of resources, the Commonwealth, in conjunction with State and Territory governments, should address the risk factors for intentional injury, recognising in particular the need: - for preventive mental health services to reduce suicide through training programs and referral of those at risk of suicide. - to adequately fund support, treatment and rehabilitation programs for people who are at risk of suicide, especially those in rural locations. - for greater efforts to prevent domestic violence in all its forms. - to develop initiatives to support men s health, wellbeing, and participation in society. - to address motivations for firearm use in violent crime. 23. The Commonwealth, in conjunction with State and Territory governments should: - investigate means through which firearms enter the illegal market in Australia, including but not necessarily limited to illegal import, theft, manufacture and re-activation of deactivated firearms. - reduce the number of firearms in the community. - improve the safe storage of firearms in the community and reduction of thefts. - ensure consistent strong firearm legislation in all state and territories. - fund ongoing monitoring and reporting on firearms, ownership, and use in Australia. ADOPTED 2012, REVISED AND RE-ENDORSED IN 2015 First adopted at the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Public Health Association of Australia. The latest revision has been undertaken as part of the 2015 policy review process. 20 Napier Close Deakin ACT Australia 2600 PO Box 319 Curtin ACT Australia 2605 5
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