Journal Published Online: 02 April 2014
Volume 17, Issue 3

Variations in Wounding Due to Unusual Firearms and Recently Available Ammunition

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

The 1960's witnessed a sharp rise in the number of murders in the United States. Murders increased from 9000 in 1960 to 14,590 in 1969. While firearms were used in 54 percent of the murders in 1962, by 1969 this percentage had risen to 65 percent [1]. At the present time, almost two-thirds of all homicides encountered by a pathologist will have been committed with firearms. Unfortunately, many pathologists are uninterested in firearms cases and handle them in a routine manner showing little imagination and having as their sole aim the recovery of a bullet for ballistics examination. If a pathologist maintains this attitude, he will miss significant findings concerning the weapons used. Some of these findings may be made only by a thorough postmortem examination.

Author Information

DiMaio, V.
Wound Ballistics Section, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., US
Spitz, W.
Office of the Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, Baltimore, Md, US
Pages: 10
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS173720377
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS173720377