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The Medium is the Message: Firearm Caliber as a Determinant of Death from Assault

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Tims is the second report of a research project on violent assault in Chicago. The first, a study of fatal and nonfatal assaults with knives and guns, produced evidence to support three conclusions:

(1) Most homicide is not the result of a single-minded intention to kill at any cost.

(2) Many nonfatal attacks with knives and guns are apparently indistinguishable in motive, intent and dangerousness from many fatal attacks. Indeed, the overlap between fatal and nonfatal assaults with knives and guns is much more impressive than any differences that were noted.

(3) Weapon dangerousness, independent of any other factors, has a substantial impact on the death rate from attack.' This paper first reports on an attempt to carry the earlier research one step further by comparing low-caliber with high-caliber firearms attacks, and then suggests some ways in which the data developed in the two studies of fatal and nonfatal attacks might interest criminologists and criminal law scholars.

I. THE STUDY
A. Plan and Basic Data

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Three-Dimensional Reconstitution Of Bullet Trajectory In Gunshot Wounds: A Case Report

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Abstract

In the med ico-legal assessment of cases of aggression with firearms, imaging techniques have a particularly important role, especially in the study of a bullet’s path through the victim’s body. The analysis of these trajectories can be performed by the use of three-dimensional reconstitution techniques, namely Three-Dimensional Multi-Slice Computed Tomography (3D-MSCT). This imaging technique has been widely used in fatal cases, as a very important complement of the classical autopsy procedures, becoming known as ‘‘virtual autopsy” or ‘‘Virtopsy”. To our knowledge, no reports describing the use of 3D-MSCT in nonfatal cases have been described in the medico-legal literature. The authors present a case of a man with a gunshot injury, in the context of a multiple aggressor situation, in which it was not possible to extract the bullet. To accurately determine the bullet’s trajectory, 3D-MSCT was performed, thus contributing to a more reliable reconstruction of the crime scene in which ...

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Fired Cartridge Case Ejection Patterns From Semi-Automatic Firearms

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Abstract

During testimony, “experts” often cite that spent cartridge case ejection locations from a semi-automatic firearm indicate the location of the shooter based on the assumption that most spent cartridge cases land to the right and rear of the shooter. The authors of this study investigated whether spent cartridge case ejection locations are an accurate indicator of a shooter’s location. Eight different semi-automatic weapons most frequently used by police officers were used to collect data from eleven different shooting positions. The results highlighted the significant inconsistency of the spent cartridge case ejection locations that occurred across test positions even when several factors including firearm type, firearm position, and ammunition were accounted for. Of 7,670 bullets fired, over 25 percent of the spent cartridge casings landed somewhere other than to the right and rear of the shooter where it is commonly accepted they should land. That pattern inconsistency is significant...

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Gunshot Wounds Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques Second Edition by Vincent J. M. DiMaio, M.D.

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This Second Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, written by Vincent J. M. Di Maio, M.D. has been greatly expanded to include over 78 new photographs with references and discussions not covered in the original text. Dr. Di Maio has taken his personal observations, experience and research of gunshot wounds and firearms to create an extremely practical hands-on guide. Guns continue to be the most frequently used weapons in murder and firearms account for more than half of the slayings. Therefore, this Second Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, will continue to be the definitive source and reference for Medical Examiners, forensic pathologists, professional law enforcement officers, forensic crime laboratories, lawyers and others involved in the criminal justice and forensic fields. In 1985, the First Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques written by Vincent J. M. Di Maio,

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Determining Distance Between Shooter And Victim Using Blood And Back Spatter

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ABSTRACT

This project was developed in hopes of being able to answer questions about a crime scene that have not yet been answered. Blood pattern analysis is a crucial part of crime scene reconstruction. Analyzing the blood spatter left behind at most crime scenes allows for investigators to determine where the victim and the assaulting weapon came into contact with each other, also known as the point of convergence. They can also tell what type of weapon the assailant used to commit the crime with by analyzing the velocity of the spatter. However, a phenomenon known as back spatter analysis or as blow back analysis may also be left behind and studied by the investigator. The intention of this research is analyzing back spatter of objects shot with three different weapons at varying distance. Different ammunition will also be used. The weapons will be a Walther P22, 9mm Walther PPS, and a .380 Smith & Wesson Bodyguard using Critical Defense

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Consecutive and Random Manufactured Semi-Automatic Pistol Breech Face and Fired Cartridge Case Evaluations

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ABSTRACT

This report describes our work on the evaluation of the impression markings on cartridge cases fired from semi-automatic pistols to determine to what extent these markings can be used to individualize a firearm and whether they can be quantified in terms the possibility that it occurred by random chance. We have been able to demonstrate that the size of the individual regions of corresponding topography on the breech faces of cartridge cases fired from the same slides were consistently larger than those that were consecutively manufactured and that there are other aspects to the matching that are not reflected by cross correlation analysis. The conclusions that can be drawn from this work are that the differences between the cross-correlation coefficients from matching and non-matching cartridge cases can not only be increased by focusing on particular sized regions of correspondence but that other approaches such as pattern recognition can also be effectively used to supplement the cross correlation techniques. Thus by modifying...

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On Shooting a Moving Vehicle with Data Flows

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Abstract

This paper proposes an ITS system that uses not only integrated cellular and ad hoc relaying technologies, but also users’ mobility profiles. It focuses on a subsystem where cellular bandwidth is used mostly for control signals, and an ad hoc distribution network (ADN) is used for file downloading and video streaming. The paper formulates an optimization problem with the objective being to maximize the amount of data to be delivered to a moving vehicles via the ADN, and thereby minimizing the usage of the costly cellular bandwidth for data transfer. Three approaches based on non-linear and linear programs are described and compared, and simulation results indicate that a satisfying performance for file download applications can be achieved.

I. INTRODUCTION

We envision an architecture for ITS in metropolitan areas that integrates the cellular and ad hoc relaying technologies. The proposed architecture, called iCAR-MOPA 1 , will provide various services to vehicles, which include file downloading, stored or real-time video streaming, and customized traffic...

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Trauma and Gunshot Wounds

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Introduction

By the time you finish reading this story, a dozen Americans will have died from a trauma death. Trauma is the leading killer of Americans from one to 44 years of age. There are 18 deaths per hour from traumatic injury. In the military setting, despite the increase in firepower, the number of deaths during war has decreased. In World War II, 30% of the Americans injured in combat died. In Vietnam, this number dropped to 24%. In the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 10 percent of those injured have died. The reduction of deaths can be attributed to better trauma systems, timely access to medical care, and newer trauma approaches. This is why it is important for you to know what to do in the event of a trauma.An understanding of what to do in different trauma scenarios could make the difference between life and death for you or your partner. This article outlines some basic information on acute...

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Shooting at Moving Vehicles

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Introduction

The subject of the use of deadly force against the drivers and occupants of moving motor vehicles has become an increasingly troublesome and controversial topic. Sometimes officers have used such force when the driver was accelerating the vehicle towards or near an officer. Some high profile cases in which vehicle drivers or passengers have died or suffered substantial injuries have resulted in large civil liability awards or settlements, such as the $7 million settlement in the Sean Bell case in New York. On the other hand, there certainly have also been instances in which police officers have been seriously injured or even killed by an oncoming vehicle either ignoring the officer’s orders to halt or even intentionally targeting the officer for harm, using the vehicle as a weapon. Indeed, in the Sean Bell case, one of the officers was, in fact, struck by the vehicle driven by Bell. A number of municipal police departments have adopted policies that restrict or prohibit...

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Shooting at Moving Targets or Shooting on the Move

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There is never enough time for all aspects of firearms training. This is an issue that has plagued law enforcement agencies forever. Reviewing the basics (marksmanship, weapon handling & presentation, reloads, malfunction clearance, etc.) is always a priority. But, sometimes there is time left over for more advanced training. So, what is considered advance firearms training? Most instructors would agree that “advance” training is simply mastering the basics. I’ll take it a step further mastering the basics under adverse conditions. So, what would your answer be if you were asked, “What you would rather spend your spare time on shooting at moving targets, or shooting on the move?” To answer that question, you have to ask this question, “Which one would you utilize more?” Shooting at Moving Targets Shooting at moving targets has always been a fun and challenging range drill. Although there are “charging man” mechanical targets systems that allow students to shoot at a target that is charging at them, most mechanical target systems are designed...

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MDCT Analysis of Projectile Injury in Forensic Investigation

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MDCT is an effective imaging technique to localize gunshot wound tracks and aid in the forensic autopsy of gunshot wound victims [1–3]. Projectiles include a diverse group of metallic objects such as bullets, components of explosive devices, or secondary projectiles from explosions that may inflict injury or cause death. In the forensic investigation of death by suspected projectile injury, determination of the projectile’s entry and exit locations, path, and associated tissue injury is important in the determination of the cause and manner of death [4, 5]. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the noninvasive characterization of projectile wounds on postmortem full-body, thinsection MDCT images. In all cases, imaging was performed on a 16-MDCT scanner. Images were interpreted using multiplanar 2D reconstruction, minimum intensity projection, and 3D volume rendering to critically and accurately analyze the 3D paths and features of projectile injury. The study was performed with the approval of the institutional review board of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and was HIPAA-compliant. Total-body MDCT...

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Firearms and Toolmarks

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Firearms and Toolmarks
The Firearm and Toolmarks section conducts a wide variety of examinations ranging from function testing of firearms to serial number restoration to fracture matching. The most commonly requested examination, incorrectly referred to as ballistics testing, is determining whether ammunition components were fired from a particular firearm.

Using valid scientific procedures, the Firearm and Toolmark section conducts safety and function testing on firearms, analyzes fired ammunition components to determine general rifling characteristics, compare fired and unfired ammunition components to determine if they were fired by a specific firearm, restore serial numbers that have been obscured or obliterated, conduct distance determinations to estimate muzzle to target distance, conduct ejection pattern tests, reconstruct shooting scenes, determine if a specific tool made a certain toolmark, and conduct fracture match examinations. The Firearm and Toolmarks section conducts several trainings throughout the year, and testifies in court to the results of examinations.

The Firearms and Tool Mark section is broken down into several sub-disciplines:

  • Firearms Examination
  • Toolmark Analysis
  • Serial Number Restoration

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Prohibited Persons Notice Form and Power of Attorney for Firearms Relinquishment

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Effective January 1, 2002, Senate Bill 950 (Chapter 944, Statutes of 2001) establishes a provision to provide a person legally prohibited from owning/possessing firearms with a notification form. The intent of the notification form is to ensure that persons who become firearms prohibited are promptly notified to immediately transfer or dispose of any illegally owned/possessed firearms. Failure of prohibited persons to divest themselves of any and all firearms could result in criminal sanctions.

Pursuant to Penal Code (PC) Sections 12021(a)(b) and (c) persons are deemed firearms prohibited if they are within any one of the categories as follows:

• Convicted of a felony;
• Addicted to the use of narcotics;
• Certified by a juvenile court for prosecution as an adult in an adult court pursuant to Section 707 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC);
• Convicted of a misdemeanor enumerated in PC Sections 12001.6 and 12021(c)(1)
• Admitted to a mental health facility pursuant to 8100, and 8103 WIC; OR:

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Gunshot Wounds

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Characteristics of the bullet and of the tissues through which it travels. In addition to the mass and velocity of the bullet, its orientation and whether it fragments or deforms affect the nature of the wound. Two major mechanisms of wounding are described: crushing and stretching of tissue. Understanding the mechanisms by which bullets disrupt tissue can help physicians to evaluate and treat wounds. The characteristics and severity of a gunshot wound are determined by the design of the weapon and projectile, the intermediate targets the projectile encounters between the gun muzzle and the body, and the sequence of tissues encountered along the projectile path. Although the skill of the person firing the weapon affects the trajectory, chance also plays a role. If the missile path includes a large bone, or if the projectile strikes a button, belt buckle, or other hard object, the seventy of the wound often increases [1, 2]. To some extent, whether the bullet hits a particular wound modifying structure...

Additional Resource: Gunshot Wounds: 1. Bullets, Ballistics, and Mechanisms of Injury (2831 downloads )

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Guns Used in Crime

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According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), almost 43.6 million criminal victimizations occurred in 1993, including 4.4 million violent crimes of rape and sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Of the victims of these violent crimes, 1.3 million (29%) stated that they faced an offender with a firearm.* In 1993, the FBI's Crime in the United States estimated that almost 2 million violent crimes of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault were reported to the police by citizens. About 582,000 of these reported murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults were committed with firearms. Murder was the crime that most frequently involved firearms; 70% of the 24,526 murders in 1993 were committed with firearms. How do we know about the guns used by criminals? No national collection of data contains detailed information about all of the guns used in crimes. Snapshots of information about the guns used by criminals are available from  official police records concerning the guns recovered in crimes and reports...

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Gunshot Wounds: A Primer

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Case
9-1-1 receives a call from the owner of a liquor store near the county line who has just been shot in the face by a robber. The man is alert and coherent with slurred speech. He is requesting immediate assistance from police and ambulance. He warns dispatchers that he anticipates the return of the thief because, in his haste to escape with the cash, the perpetrator forgot his wallet. Shortly thereafter, the 9-1-1 operator hears shouting and two distinct sets of gunshots. Introduction
Firearms and gunshot wounds are now common in today’s society. Hot debate continues to rage regarding cause, effect and the best way to handle the ever- increasing number of deaths resulting from guns. Emergency services must also examine their response to such an environment. This article provides a brief overview of current information on the subject. Before You Arrive Prior to arriving on the scene of a shooting, assess the situation. Security is paramount. Has law

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