In Australia in 1998 there were 328 firearm-related deaths; 71.6 per cent were suicides and 17.4 per cent were homicides. Males aged 65 and over have the highest firearms mortality rate. The Northern Territory, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland had above average firearm-related death rates (per 100 000 population) and the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia had the lowest rates. While suicides are more likely to be committed with a ”hunting rifle”, homicides are more likely to be committed with a handgun.
This paper provides a statistical overview of deaths whose underlying cause was reported as being firearm-related in Australia for the year 1998. It is the first in a series of reports that will be produced on an annual basis examining firearm-related deaths in Australia and in each of Australia’s states and territories. These reports will primarily be based on analyses of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) External Causes of Death data supplied to the ABS by the State and Territory Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This report includes statistics on firearms deaths as a whole, as well as statistics on suicides, homicides, fatal accidents, deaths as a result of legal intervention, and also deaths where the injury was undetermined as to whether it was accidentally or purposely inflicted. Number and Death Rates In 1998, a total of 127 202 deaths were registered in Australia (ABS 1999a). Of these deaths, only 328 (0.26%) were firearm-related. Of total deaths from external causes (n = 7180), which includes accidents of all types, and all suicides and homicides, firearm deaths accounted for 4.6 per cent. Suicides accounted for the majority (71.6%) of firearms deaths in 1998, followed by homicides (17.4%), deaths resulting from accidental discharge of firearms (6.4%), and deaths that were classified as undetermined by the coroner, as it was unclear whether the injury was purposely or accidentally inflicted (2.4%).1 A further 2.1 per cent of firearm-related deaths resulted from legal intervention (deaths as a result of law enforcement officers performing their legal duties [ABS 1997]) (see Table 1). In terms of rates, the firearm death rate in 1998 was 1.75 per 100 000 Australian residents (see Table 1). This represents a noticeable decrease in comparison to 1997, where the firearm deaths rate was recorded as being 2.36 (Mouzos 1999). In other words, in 1998 Australia recorded 110 fewer firearm-related deaths than in 1997 and 195 fewer firearm deaths than in 1996.