
	Decline Continues for Firearms-Related Crime and Accidents The number of firearm-related fatalities in the U.S. in all categories and for all age groups continued to drop in 1999 from the previous year, and preliminary figures for 2000 show they may drop even further. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the 28,575 fatalities in 1999 were the lowest since 1971, represent a 5.7% drop from 1998. The NCHS data reveal that the rate of firearm fatalities also declined 6.2% overall between 1998 and 1999, with the largest drop, 26.1% in the 10-14 year-old age group. Firearm-related homicide declined 9.3%, and suicide dropped 6.2% across all ages. While the rate of accidental firearm-related fatalities remained unchanged, the total number of such incidents declined from 866 in 1998 to 824 in 1999, the lowest ever recorded. Initial estimates from the NCHS for the year 2000, show unintentional firearm deaths at 808. Firearms were involved in only 1.2% of all deaths in 1999, with firearm accidents representing 0.8% of all accidental deaths. The number of accidental firearm fatalities for children under the age of 15 totaled 88 in 1999 according to the NCHS.