Evaluation of deaths due to firearm injuries autopsied between 2019 and 2023 at the Bursa Group Presidency of the Forensic Medicine Institute

Firearm injuries are a significant public health problem globally, causing thousands of deaths every year and threatening public safety. Medicolegal investigations are conducted regarding these deaths; analyzing parameters such as the cause of death, shooting distance, and type of weapon used to determine the nature of the incident and the manner of death. This study aims to raise awareness and discuss potential solutions for firearm-related deaths by evaluating autopsied cases at the Bursa Forensic Medicine Group Presidency between 2019 and 2023, alongside existing literature. The autopsy reports of 325 firearm-related deaths were retrospectively analyzed, considering parameters such as age, gender, injury location, shooting distance, number of entry and exit wounds, additional injuries, weapon type, and toxicological findings. Data were processed using SPSS 26.0 and presented in tables and graphs. Of the 325 cases, 87% were male and 13% were female, with a mean age of 36.63 ± 15.28 years. 41.2% of the deaths occurred in hospitals, and 24% at home. The majority of deaths occurred during summer. Handguns were used in 94.2% of cases, and shotguns in 5.5%. Most shootings were fired from close range. The most common injury sites were the head and chest. At least one of the narcotics and stimulants was detected in 16% of the cases. The primary causes of increased firearm prevalence include security issues, illegal arms trade, socioeconomic factors, and insufficient education. To address this, regulations on personal firearm ownership, effective measures against illegal arms trade, and awareness campaigns on firearm risks are essential to reduce deaths and improve public safety. Keywords: Autopsy, Firearm Injury, Forensic Medicine, Shooting Distance