Forensic and social impact of accidental firearms death during Jordanian society celebration  

Emad M.Abdullat , Ahmad Oqailan, Rayyan Al Ali, Arwa.A.Hudaib

 

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to shed light on a very disturbing phenomena, which threatens the peace and security of the whole community in Jordan, it is the phenomenon of accidental firearms death during celebration that spreads amongst citizens, the present study has demonstrated the Forensic and social impact of accidental firearms death during Jordanian society celebration, within Amman in order to have an overall picture of the occurrence of accidentals firearms death in Jordan.

Method: Over a six year period (2008-2013), 116 Cases were obtained from the archives of three hospitals JUH, prince Hamza Hospital, and prince Fisal Hospital Biological specimens from these victims were collected. Toxicology screens for psychoactive drugs and alcohol were conducted on these specimens and the results were analyzed according to age, sex, and victim’s status.

Results: The study sets several findings and recommendations, having in mind,the power always seeks to control and spreading through two perspectives, the first legal and legislative , through its role to enact the necessary legislations for arms control and circulation , and the second is desensitized and guiding which aims to inform citizens about the seriousness of the weapon and using it , as well as activation moral and social sense among citizens.

Keywords:  Firearms · Fatalities · Accident.

Introduction.

Throughout the world deaths due to firearm weapons have increased [1], tremendously.  Every year hundreds of thousands of people die from injuries caused by firearms [2]. Gun violence in the United States is an intensely debated political issue. Gun related violence is the most common in poor urban areas and in conjunction with gang violence, often involving juveniles or young adults [3,4].  In the United States, the risk of death from firearms injuries versus death by RTA is relatively high [5,6]. On the other hand, in European countries; rates of death from firearm injuries are lower [7,8,9,10]. Recently, it was noticed the growing phenomenon of arms in Jordanian society, whether it was legally or illegally widespread [11] such a phenomenon has got floating features clearly. Citizens don’t hesitate to carry different weapons and use them during celebration. Somebody attribute the phenomenon of carrying weapons in Arab communities generally, to its association with consolidating the customs and social traditions inherited which encourages the carrying and use of weapons in certain social and security attitudes. According to social position, weapons are used to fire in the air to express joy especially in marriage ceremonies and holidays. They also may be used for hurting and in resolving disputes between individuals or groups of people; in addition they are used in crime and in actions not less strangeness of the same phenomenon [13,14]. Increasing use of weapons in cases of death where as shots is fired at the funeral of deceased by members of his tribe or clan. The size of the spread of the phenomenon of bearing and acquisition of weapons in Jordan, either legal or illegal is extremely difficult for many objective considerations. The prevention of firearm deaths and injuries during celebration is one of the most complex and controversial issues facing the public health profession in recent years.  Laws have been enacted to control or discourage private gun ownership, but the laws' effects in reducing deaths have been disappointing [15,16]. There are virtually no reliable data on the number of nonfatal firearm injuries [17,18]. Educational efforts have been attempted to promote the safer use of firearms, but they have not led to a significant reduction in the number of fatalities. The severity of firearms injuries is determined by two factors: The damage of the tissues caused by the mechanical interaction between the bullet and the tissues, and the effects of the temporary cavity produced by the bullet [19]. The medical, legal, and emotional costs of this violence impose an enormous burden on urban and rural trauma hospitals, and the courts, families, and society as a whole. The evaluation of these injuries requires specialized training and expertise, whether by an emergency physician in a living gunshot victim or a forensic pathologist in the deceased [20].

 

Material and Methods.

This study is a retrospective case series conducted based on the analysis of all medico-legal reports related to fatal firearm cases during (2008-2013). Cases were obtained from the archives of three hospitals JUH, prince Hamza Hospital and prince Fisal Hospital corps examinations and autopsy records were investigated retrospectively. Cases were evaluated according to the age, date (month, year), nationality, place (outdoor, indoor), source (known, unknown), type of death (immediate, later), cause of death, number of shots, laboratory investigation, range of firearm, and manner of death. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20.0.

Results.

The most commonly affected age group was the age group of (20-29 years), 50 cases; 43.1% of the cases, followed by those (30-39 years), (19 cases; 16.4%). The next age group was (10-19), (18 cases; 15.5%), followed by fifth decade (11cases; 9.5%). under 10 years old (4 cases; 3.4%).  Finally, the least affected age group was   the sixth decade (3 cases; 2.6%),  (Table 1).

 

 

 

 

Age interval

f

%

<10

4

3.4

10 – 19

18

15.5

20 – 29

50

43.1

30 - 39

19

16.4

40 – 49

11

9.5

50 – 59

11

9.5

60 and above

3

2.6

 

 

The study includes 116 victims the largest number in the study period was found on June, while the fewest were on November, (Table 2)

Month

f

%

1

9

7.8

2

6

5.2

3

3

2.6

4

17

14.7

5

12

10.3

6

19

16.4

7

13

11.2

8

5

4.3

9

9

7.8

10

13

11.2

11

3

2.6

12

7

6.0

Total

116

100

 

The largest number of cases was   in 2013, followed by 24 cases (20.1%) in 2011, 22 cases (19.2%) in 2010, 19 cases (16.4%) in 2012, 14 cases (12.1%) in 2009, and finally 2 cases (1.7%) in 2008. Table (3)

Year

f

%

2008

2

1.7

2009

14

12.1

2010

22

19.0

2011

24

20.7

2012

19

16.4

2013

35

30.2

Total

116

100

In 93 cases 80.2% the source of death was known, in 23 cases (19.8%) the source of death was unknown. Table (4)

Source

f

%

Known

93

80.2

Unknown

23

19.8

Total

116

100

 

The manner of the death was accurately identifiable in this study, most of the dead was homicides (50 cases; (43.1%). Accidents accounted for 24 cases (20.7%) and 36 cases (31.0%) were suicides, 6 cases (5.2%) were accounted as unknown manner of death. Table (5)

Manner of death

f

%

Accident

24

20.7

Homicide

50

43.1

Suicide

36

31.0

Unknown

6

5.2

Total

116

100

Table (6) shows that the deaths predominantly occur as a result of single shot 91 cases (78.4%).

 

  No of shots

f

%

1

91

78.4

11

1

0.9

2

9

7.8

3

7

6.0

5

1

0.9

7

1

0.9

Shotguns

6

5.2

Total

116

100

 

Table (7) shows that firearm fatalities occurred as a result of distant range fire at  64 cases (55.2%).

Range of fire

f

%

Distant

64

55.2

Near-Contact Wounds

44

37.9

Not available

8

6.9

Total

116

100

 

Results show that firearm fatalities occur primarily due to wound where are located in head region (Laceration and Hemorrhage of the brain) 33.6% (39 cases), In most cases, death did not  occur  directly 63.8%, Immediate death occurred in 36.2%. Laboratory investigations were negative for psychoactive substances (39.7%) of the cases and alcohol presence was negative also    within   37.9% of cases.

DISCUSSION.

Over the past few decades, the incidence of firearm injuries has raised exponentially, both in the setting of organized warfare and in the setting of civilian violence Reports cite accidentally sustained injuries as an important cause of mortality and morbidity in firearm injuries [21]. The study reported that the most commonly affected age group in the studied victims was the third decade, It can be said that youth pick more fights and are therefore more engaged and aggressive. The elderly are wiser and act with restraint; their inclination is to avoid fights rather than provoke them. Most Accidental firearm crimes occurred in the summer, these findings are partially in agreement with those that reported that most injuries occurred in summer months and the fewest occurred in winter months, wedding parties, and celebrations, take place, where accidental shootings could happen. Carrying firearms is deeply rooted in Arab culture. Our grandfathers and our fathers were used to firing shots during family ceremonies, marriages, funerals etc. This makes it hard to change mentalities. For them, machine guns symbolize power and are a source of pride. Other reports of unintentional firearm injuries show that such injuries can occur during handling of weapons, i.e., cleaning, playing, and accidental discharge, Game shooting [22,23]. To the above mentioned categories of unintentional firearm injuries, we have added “Aerial shooting during riot and mob control” (in previous studies injuries caused by stray bullets during riot control have not been described). Such injuries are being increasingly noted in the setting of conflict zones and riot control [24]. The age-group between 20-29 years accounted for (34.1%) of the cases. Such accidental injuries were commonly self-inflicted in adults and inflicted by a relative or friend in children. A number of victims believed that the weapon was not loaded at the time of the accident [25]. Accidental firearm related injuries have been noted to occur during celebratory gunfire. This is a ritual commonly practiced in regions like Balkans, the Middle East, Northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, parts of US and in Latin American countries like Puerto Rico [26]. It was noticed this growing phenomenon in Jordanian society this practice has been implicated many cases of random injuries and deaths due to stray bullets. Falling bullets after aerial shooting can cause mortality primarily due to the high incidence of head injury in these cases. Projectiles with high kinetic energy are likely to transfer enough energy to the cranium to transform bone fragments into secondary missiles [27]. In this study of accidental bullet injuries, it was noted that in case of a single fatal gunshot wound, the head was the involved area in 33.6 cases,   and the abdomen in 19.1% of the cases. The high mortality in accidental firearm injuries to the nervous system underscores the need for prompt and urgent management of such injuries [28,29]. The delay in transporting such patients from local hospitals to specialized centers having expertise in managing such injuries also contributes to the high mortality, especially in developing and under-developed countries. Firearm injuries to the head contribute to 33.6% of deaths from brain injury in persons less than 45 years of age [30]. The primary injury results from a number of factors, including injury to soft tissue, fracture of overlying bone, and direct impact of the projectile [31,32 ]. In a study of firearm injuries, it was noticed that most cases were due to accidental firearm discharge, due to stray bullets. The stray bullet injuries were sustained during gun testing, crowd dispersal and celebratory gunfire during wedding celebrations [33]. This study emphasized the need for safety measures, such as testing guns only in open fields and repairing guns only after unloading them [34]. Studies were carried out on the incorporation of safety measures in guns to prevent accidental discharge. The safety measures studied were: Personalization devices, which allow the gun to be operated only by a single user Loaded chamber indicator, which indicates that the gun contains ammunition Magazine safety, which prevents the gun from firing when the magazine is removed [35]. Many deaths could have been prevented by using one of the above safety devices.    Many studies emphasize the need for incorporation of these devices in guns to prevent accidental firearm injuries [36]. Accidental and stray bullet injuries may have variable presentations, depending on the type of weapon used and on the organ system(s) involved. Fatalities are high in injuries involving the head region [37]. Both primary brain injury and secondary complications may account for the high fatality. The mortality and morbidity is higher with high-muzzle-velocity bullets (as in military weapons) than with low-muzzle-velocity bullets (as in handguns) [38]. The point we wish to highlight is that during mob control law enforcement agencies often resort to aerial firing to disperse the crowd without causing any mortality but, unfortunately, the victims may be those far away from the site.  The reason is that modern police rifles are capable of firing bullets with high velocity, which may range up to 2000 m/sec. Bullets can travel a long distance from the site of firing, falling in a parabolic trajectory, and any unfortunate person can be the victim [39]. We strongly recommend that the use of this method of mob control be stopped and be replaced by methods that are not so deadly.

 

A public health response

Violence is not simply a social ill or a social justice problem. It is an important health problem and one that is largely preventable. Public health approaches have much to contribute to solving it. It is a delicate social security file in Jordan. Estimations indicate that the number of licensed weapons is about 350 thousand pieces of weapons, 1700 licensed pieces in favor of security companies and special protection, while shooting club gets 3000 licensed pieces, the remaining number are licenses granted to individuals as licenses of bearing and acquisition of weapons [40]. The Jordanian law, in this regard, prevents licensing automatic weapons. The interior Ministry has supplied licenses to bear weapons and restricted it only to justified acquisition. According to the regulations and directives concerned weapons licensing; hunting rifles are considered most licenses, followed by pistols, but the most dangerous of all is the proliferation of hundreds of thousands of automatic weapons including illegal and without official authorization. Somebody attributes people’s avoiding licensing their weapons because they don’t want to pay fees and evasion of accountability and prosecution [41]. The Interior Ministry follows special procedures to issue licenses for carrying and acquisition of weapons. Such procedures are based on the system of arms and ammunitions No.34 of 1952 as amended. Depending on justification the Ministry issues license for acquisition arms to a natural person [41]. The license is considered for personal use and must be used only by its owner. It can’t be granted to anyone who committed a felony or those who didn’t complete the first twenty years of age taking into account that such licenses are for hunting rifles and pistols only. The Interior Ministry has suspended the issuance of one-year license for carrying weapons. Otherwise those who have weapons without licenses will be brought to court for trail according to arms and ammunitions act which criminalize carrying weapons without legal authorization from a week to three months and confiscation  [41].

The number of cases of firing bullets officially registered doesn’t necessarily reflect the truth about the real situation of this phenomenon, especially if many of the incidents of gunfire isn’t up to official authorities or the judicial authorities. At a time of heightened warnings of the risk of the spread of the phenomenon of carrying weapons in the community, indicated by the data on the ground, that the prices of weapons rose dramatically and clear, in light of the growing black market for this item which is that they enter the country through cross-border smuggling and border crossing [42]. According to a security source, the distribution of equipment and sophisticated devices to monitor the border (border control system) contributed significantly to stop many of the smuggling of weapons to the kingdom, but this is no longer enough to stop the smuggling of all operations [43]. The use of firearms in times of concerts and events relating to marriage and weddings, holidays, etc., is considered one of the times of increased incidents of manslaughter dramatically due to ricocheted shots which move backward to kill some individuals, who are often women and children, who were on rooftops, or as a result of shots indiscriminately release of most of those present in the occasion, which makes it difficult to know the culprit in the killing or injury, which leads the owners of the ceremony to share the burdens of the physical implications of this, and in spite of the release of some the laws of the Interior Ministry, which prevents the use of bullets in these events, and identified large amounts of  money in fines on each of the law isn’t respected in addition other penalties, however, we don’t find any trace of such laws, the lack of respect by many individuals. Such incidents aren’t recorded in the statistics because most of them subjected to ricocheted shots which move backward  [50,51]. We can say that the most important source for providing individuals arms are the arms trade, which began to spread in the provinces and is considered profitable business. The first legal and legislative, through its enactment of the necessary legislation for arms control and circulation, and the second an awareness and a pilot, aims to inform citizens about the seriousness of the weapon and using it, as well as the activation of moral and social obligation among citizens that there is a centralized state able to protect them and his property [44]. Most firearms injures, resulting from ignorance in how to use it by some, and upload by young children in the age, and its use in weddings and events, joking with weapons at home with friends, as well as its use during a state of anger and nervousness by some. Modifying and activating the laws and regulations governing the operation of weapons and ammunition in the kingdom, and the prohibition of the possession and carrying of weapons in all its forms in all regions of the kingdom. Activating the rule of judicial authorities in resolving disputes between individuals as soon as possible, and to ensure justice for all. Campaigning various national governmental and private individuals own awareness of the damage to this phenomenon, and campaigns to raise awareness of guiding the resulting damage. Banning the use of weapons in times of weddings, gladness, anniversaries and toughening the penalties for this and militancy in giving licenses for the possession of weapons to citizens.   Raise the volume of penalties associated with the arms trade, and activating the roll of the security services monitoring, inspection and protection of witnesses and informants in this topic [44,45]. Although the public health implications of violence have been known — if not fully understood or measured — for many years, tribal custom(Atwa) role to end the conflict and resolve the cause of strife , it protects lives and property and limits the expansion of the effects of crime to other individuals who does not  have the guilt or relationship.

CONCLUSION.

Analysis of the circumstances involved in   gunshot fatalities suggests that the majority of these deaths, especially in young children, are entirely preventable. By actively supporting and initiating educational and legislative efforts limiting the accessibility of loaded firearms within the home also accidentals firearms death during   celebration to decrease lethality or inadvertent weapon discharge, physicians should be able to diminish firearm-related morbidity and mortality among young children.

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