Other Issues and Forms of Injury

Home Defense

Much is written in the popular literature concerning weapons for home defense, with articles recommending virtually any type of firearm short of a howitzer! Unfortunately, presence of guns in the home leads to more accidents and fatalities (often children) than to actual use in defensive situations. (Kellerman and Reay, 1986).

It should be remembered that most projectiles above .22 cal can penetrate the relatively thin wallboard of houses and apartments, and bullets fired from a military-style rifle might well penetrate through several houses! Perhaps the best weapon, if one were to pick an ideal based upon safety and ability to hit a target under duress, would be a short-barreled shotgun with shells containing small pellets (#6 or 7). (Zaleski, 1982)

Other Injuries

Persons engaged in target shooting, particularly at indoor firing ranges, are exposed to lead and may develop intoxication with lead (Chau et al, 1995). One study showed half of those tested to have blood lead levels >40 micrograms/dl. Lead levels at firing ranges may be five times that of OSHA standards. (Fischbein et al, 1979) Lead poisoning from retained bullets has been reported, but is most likely with multiple fragments or pellets within one month of injury. One to five years after injury, there is little risk for lead poisoning (Manton and Thal, 1986) Brachial plexus injuries have been reported from firearm recoil. (Wanamaker, 1974) Eye protection (glasses or goggles) should be worn when target shooting to prevent eye injury from ammunition fragments (Heimann and Lemmen, 1986).

Plastic bullets, replacing rubber bullets (implicated in three deaths) used as "safe" projectiles for riot control, were shown in one study to be associated with 13 deaths (seven children) by serious head injury, usually when fired at distances less than the 25 yard range considered be "safe" (Metress and Metress, 1987)

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