GOAL's Then And Now Report

Gun Owners' Action League
The Official Firearms Association of Massachusetts

"Protecting Your Freedom Begins Here"

P.O. Box 567 Northboro, MA ph: 508-393-5333 fax:508-393-5222

"The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self defense in the home."

- U.S. Supreme Court Justice J. Scalia, June 26, 2008

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Then and Now

The following chart reflects the numbers of firearm injuries as compared from before Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998 and several years later. The figures regarding injuries were taken directly from the January 2003 Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Weapon Related Injury Surveillance System (WRISS). These numbers represent a complete failure of the promises made five years ago by the proponents of gun control.

	*1997*	*2001*	*Change*
Number of Licensed Gun Owners	1,541,201	199,660	*- 87%*
Assault Related Knife Injuries	1353	1361	+ 0.6%
Assault Related Gun Injuries (Firearms)	270	335	+ 24.1%
Unintentional/Accidental Gun Injuries (Firearm)	56 *	20 *	- 64.4% *
Self-Inflicted Gun Injuries (Firearm)	22	23	+ 4.5%
Unknown Intent Gun Injuries (Firearm)	48	60	+ 25%
Total of Overall Gun Injuries (Firearm)	396	438	+ 10.6%

* It is important to note while viewing the chart that the reader keep in mind the 87% decrease in licensed gun owners.