Firearm-related Injuries in Pennsylvania (08/04/05)

Hospital charges for firearm-related injuries in Pennsylvania have risen dramatically and averaged $127 million per year between 2001 and 2003. In urban counties across the state, the percentages of deaths and hospitalizations for firearm-related injuries due to assaults/homicides were much higher than in rural counties where suicides and accidents were much more common as the causes of hospitalization and death. Young adults, blacks and males had, by far, the highest hospitalization and death rates for firearm related injuries, especially those due to assaults.