Changes in Rates of Suicide by Mass Shooters, 1980-2019.

OBJECTIVE: The rate of worldwide mass shootings increased almost 400% over the last 40 years. About 30% are followed by the perpetrator's fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt. METHOD: We examined the rate of fatal and nonfatal attempts among 528 mass shooters over the last 40 years and their relationship to detected mental illness to better understand this specific context of suicide. We collected information on U.S.-based, personal-cause mass murders that involved one or more firearms, from online sources. RESULTS: A greater proportion of mass shooters from 2000 to 2019 took or attempted to take their own lives (40.5%) compared with those from 1980 to 1999 (23.2%, p < 0.001). More than double the proportion of perpetrators who made a fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt had a history of non-psychotic psychiatric/neurologic symptoms (38.9%), compared with perpetrators who did not make a fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt (18.1%; p < 0.001). Among mass shooters who made fatal or nonfatal suicide attempts, 77 of 175 (44%) did not have any recorded psychiatric, neurologic, or substance use condition. Of the 98 mass shooters who made fatal or non-fatal suicide attempts and had a psychiatric, substance use, or neurologic condition, 41 had depressive disorders. CONCLUSION: It is possible that a lack of information about the perpetrators' mental health or suicidal ideation led to an underestimation of their prevalence. These data suggest that suicide associated with mass shootings may represent a specific context for suicide, and approaches such as psychological autopsy can help to ascertain when psychiatric illness mediates the relationship between mass shootings and suicide.

We examined 528 mass shootings.A greater proportion of mass shooters from 2000-2019 made a fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt (123/304, 40.5%) compared with mass shooters from 1980-1999 (52/224, 23.2%), χ2 = 17.3, p<.001.More than double the proportion of perpetrators who made a fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt had a history of non-psychotic psychiatric/neurologic symptoms (38.9%), compared with those who did not (18.1%; p < 0.001).Among mass shooters who made a fatal or nonfatal suicide attempt, 77 of 175 (44%) did not have any recorded psychiatric, neurologic, or substance use condition. However, it is possible that a lack of information about the perpetrators' mental health or suicidal ideation led to an underestimation of their prevalence.These results suggest that perpetrators may have considered suicide a potential outcome of such an event, and/or that the perpetrators' high levels of aggression and anger, accompanied by an impaired capacity for restraint, resulted in homicide followed by suicidal behavior.Psychological autopsies can clarify the role of psychiatric illness and more extreme aggressive traits in homicide-suicide instances of mass shootings.

A Review of Community-Based Gun Violence Prevention Programs and the Physician's Role.

Gun violence (GV) and safety is a contentious topic in the United States, despite increasing morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents. It is important for physicians to take a role in preventing future GV. This article aims to present several methods that physicians can use to prevent GV in their own communities, ranging from implementation of large-scale intervention programs to simple screenings and anticipatory guidance. As the problem of GV persists, it is important for physicians to use their role to identify individuals who are at high-risk and advocate for changes that will benefit their future health.

Pediatric Firearm Trauma on the Rise: A Retrospective Review of Over 1,100 Cases in 12 Years at One Center.

BACKGROUND: Gunshot injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. The goal of this study was to better understand if certain age groups, mechanisms of injury, and type of firearms were associated with the increasing rates of pediatric gun-related trauma. We hypothesized that the extremities were disproportionately targeted when compared with the random likelihood of striking specific body-surface areas. METHODS: This study includes pediatric firearm-related injury (FRI) patients who presented to a single free-standing level 1 pediatric hospital or died at the scene from 2010 to 2021. The hospital data was collected prospectively as part of a level 1 trauma system electronic database. Death data was collected from the local coroner's office. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2021, 1,126 pediatric FRI occurred in the geographic region studied. Demographic information available for 1,118 patients showed that 897 (80.23%) were male, and that black individuals had a statistically significant increased rate of FRI compared with white or Hispanic individuals. Mean age was 13.69 years. Most injuries were caused by handguns. CONCLUSIONS: This data could help leaders design strategies to combat the violence, such as legislation that limits handgun access to all, especially children, and mandates safe storage of handguns. Gun-lock programs, universal background checks, and firearm-ownership education also might help stem this tide of violence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II Prognosis study.

An Introduction to the Semantics and Statistics Behind the Firearm Policy Debates.

It is impossible to fully understand why the United States has consistently failed to protect its citizens from firearm violence until one understands some of the key discrepancies that exist at the center of the firearm policy debate. Differences in language, data categorization, and research related to firearms and their impacts in the United States contribute to confusion and debate between firearm policy advocates and opponents, ultimately stalling progress toward some common goals. As frontline health professionals, emergency nurses must be aware of these nuances in order to be informed advocates for the safety of their patients and their communities. Emergency nurses can use the information from this article to help inform screening and education related to firearm safety and injury prevention. They can also use this information to inform nursing research as well as local and national advocacy efforts related to firearm injuries and deaths.

The Experience of Survivors of Firearm Suicide Attempts: A Retrospective Case Series.

Objective: We sought to identify people who survived firearm suicide attempts to describe the acute stressors, substance use, and mental health conditions related to the attempt. Background: Most firearm deaths in the United States are the result of suicide. Because firearm suicide attempts have a case fatality rate of approximately 90%, little is known about the precipitating factors that lead to firearm suicide attempts. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series of patients admitted to a large hospital system between 2000 and 2019 who survived intentional, self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. Through the electronic medical record, we collected information about acute stressors, substance use, and mental health diagnoses before or at the time of the suicide attempt. Results: Thirty-four patients were included in the study cohort. Patients were predominantly White (74%) and male (88%), with a mean age of 44 (range, 14-82). Nineteen (56%) patients were acutely intoxicated with alcohol upon hospitalization and 17 (50%) patients had a positive urine drug screen. Acute stressors involving interpersonal relationships (53%), work/school (32%), and legal disputes (18%), among others, were documented in 82% of patients. Most patients (65%) had been diagnosed with depression before their index hospitalization. Most patients were discharged to an acute rehabilitation center (41%) or an inpatient psychiatric facility (41%). Conclusions: Acute stress and alcohol intoxication were common in this cohort of patients who attempted suicide using firearms. These data offer an ability to learn from the experience of survivors of firearm suicide attempts, a rare population.

[Microbiological challenges in the treatment of war injuries]. / Mikrobiologische Herausforderungen bei der Versorgung von Kriegsverletzungen.

The treatment of war injuries represents a continuing and recurrent challenge in modern reconstructive surgery. Previously, tumor resections and sepsis-related resections were mainly responsible for lengthy bone defects in Germany. In recent years another picture has increasingly emerged, particularly caused by the medical support of Ukraine. Aspects of military surgery are also becoming more important in civil hospitals, especially in the treatment of gunshot and explosion injuries. In Germany, war injuries are currently secondarily treated, as the distribution of patients is carried out according to the cloverleaf principle, weeks or months after the occurrence of the primary injury. In addition to complex bone and soft tissue defects of the extremities following such injuries, which often affect neural and vascular structures, reconstruction is often complicated by an increasing spectrum of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The definition of microbiological terms, such as contamination, colonization, critical colonization, local and systemic infections are important in the clinical routine in order to initiate a targeted treatment, especially in treatment with antibiotics. Wound swabs for determination of the spectrum of pathogens and the optimal testing of resistance are important for selecting the appropriate antibiotic agents. The concept of antibiotic stewardship (ABS) is established in many hospitals to improve the quality of antibiotic treatment and to minimize the formation of resistance. The selection of the method of reconstruction depends on the condition of the patient, the overall clinical constellation and the function to be expected after completion of treatment. The treatment of injuries due to violence and terrorism necessitates clear concepts and an interdisciplinary approach, especially with respect to microbiological challenges and increasing resistance situations.

Firearm-Related Juvenile Death Rates Correlate With Gun Ownership Rates, Measures of Guns in Circulation, and Leniency of Existing Firearm Laws Among U.S. States.

INTRODUCTION: Firearms now represent the leading cause of death in U.S. children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if state-level rates of gun ownership, guns in circulation, and strictness of firearm-related laws are related to firearm-related mortality among both juveniles and overall populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: State firearm mortality rates among the juvenile and overall populations were obtained from 2010 to 2020. The number of weapons registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and federal firearms licensees for each state were also recorded. Giffords Law Center Scorecard Rankings, a relative measure of the restrictiveness of each state's gun laws, were also collected. Unadjusted linear regressions modeled the relationships between firearm-associated mortality and ATF-registered weapons, federal firearm licensees, Giffords Center rankings, and gun ownership rates. Multivariable (adjusted) analyses were performed to control for poverty, unemployment, and poor mental health. RESULTS: Unadjusted analyses demonstrated that higher gun ownership rates and more lenient gun laws were associated with increased firearm-associated mortality among juveniles. Similarly, these measures as well as increased ATF-registered weapons and ATF federal firearm licensees were associated with increased firearm mortality in the overall population. In the adjusted analyses, more ATF-registered weapons, more ATF federal firearm licensees, higher gun ownership rates, and more lenient firearm laws were associated with increased firearm-related mortality in the overall population, while increased gun ownership and higher Giffords Center rankings were associated with increased firearm-associated mortality in the pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the toll of gun violence in the United States, policymakers should focus on implementing more restrictive firearm laws and reducing the prevalence of guns in their communities.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Connecticut, 2013-2020.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have enacted Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) statutes, which allow temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. Connecticut was the first state to enact such a law in 1999. The law's implementation and use between 1999 and 2013 were previously described, finding that ERPOs were pursued rarely for the first decade and that most orders were issued in response to concerns about suicide or self-harm rather than about interpersonal violence. The current study analyzes over 1,400 ERPOs in Connecticut between 2013 and 2020 in several domains: respondent demographics, circumstances leading to ERPO filing, type of threat (suicide, violence to others, or both), number and type of firearms removed, prevalence of mental illness and drug and alcohol use, and legal outcomes. Results are similar to the earlier study, indicating that ERPO respondents in Connecticut are primarily White, male, middle-aged residents of small towns and suburbs who pose a risk of harm to themselves (67.9%) more often than to others (42.8%). Significant gender differences between ERPO respondents are discussed, as are state-specific trends over time and differences between Connecticut and other states with published ERPO data.

Are gel blasters a safe toy? A study into their kinetic energy per unit area.

Gel blasters are currently imported and marketed as children's toys in Australia. Gel blasters closely imitate the appearance of many genuine firearms of all types and are designed to propel small hydrated gel balls of approximately 7-8 mm in diameter, by means of compressed air or gas. They are considered illegal in all states of Australia except Queensland but these items aren't specifically written into most state firearms legislation. However, to be considered as children's toys, they must not exceed the recommended kinetic energy (KE) of 2500 J/m2 as outlined in the Australian/New Zealand Standard Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties (Safety of Toys ASNZS ISO 8124.1:2019) [1]. The aim of this study was to determine if a range of gel blasters would conform to the Australian & New Zealand Standard and have projectiles with kinetic energy of less than 2500 J/m2. Utilising the testing procedure outlined in ASNZS ISO 8124.1:2019 (Australian/New Zealand Standard Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety Aspects related to Mechanical and Physical Properties (Safety of Toys ASNZS ISO 8124.1:2019) [1]), a range of gel blasters were tested. In addition, a number of NERF™ toys and airsoft firearms were tested to provide reference between an accepted child's toy and items considered to be a firearm, such as airsoft firearms. A NERF™ toy (commonly referred to as a blaster) fires a foam projectile at very low velocities through direct spring/striker impact to the rear of the dart, battery-powered motorised flywheel, or by compressed air generated by a small piston inside a cylinder. Airsoft firearms are designed to fire hard plastic balls (typically 6 mm in diameter) and can achieve velocities upwards of 90 m/s with the potential to cause injuries to soft tissue. Results showed the KE per unit area of pellets fired from airsoft firearms significantly exceeded the recommended 2500 J/m2 ranging from approximately 10,620 J/m2 to 69,650 J/m2. Twenty of the twenty-four gel blasters tested (83 %) exceeded 2500 J/m2, with values ranging between 2112 J/m2 and 42,645 J/m2. NERF™ toys were found to be notably under 2500 J/m2, ranging from approximately 1230 J/m2 to 2129 J/m2. The results suggest that the majority of gel blasters (items of seizures) tested, currently being imported and marketed as children's toys in Australia, easily exceed 2500 J/m2 as outlined in the ASNZS ISO 8124.1:2019 and are not safe to be marketed and sold as children's toys. Reinforcing the position of most jurisdictions, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra made the following statement in 2019: 'ACT (Australian Capital Territory) Policing is reminding the public that replica firearms known as gel blasters are illegal in the ACT'. Taking the results determined throughout this research and the statement by AFP into consideration, gel blasters should not be exempt from control under Firearms Legislation because they are claimed to be toy.

Permeation of a firearm cleaning solvent through disposable nitrile gloves.

The objective was to study the interaction of the components of a complex liquid mixture on the permeation parameters of its constituents. A firearm cleaning solvent, Hoppes No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner, was selected to challenge two varieties of disposable nitrile gloves, the thinnest (Kimberly-Clark Lavender) and thickest (Kimberly-Clark Blue), using the closed-loop ASTM F739 cell without recirculation and n-decane collection followed by quantitation of the permeated compounds using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The thicker Blue glove resisted the permeation of Hoppe's relative to the thinner Lavender glove as shown by 3.2 times more mass permeated by the Lavender glove at 60 min despite the same standardized breakthrough times (7.5 ± 2.5 min). The kerosene fraction permeated faster at a much higher rate than expected. The Kimberly-Clark disposable nitrile glove chemical resistance guide lists a breakthrough time for kerosene of 82 min for Sterling disposable nitrile glove material. However, for Hoppe's the kerosene components appeared at the standardized breakthrough time. Mixture components that were reported by the glove manufacturer to quickly permeate the disposable nitrile material, such as ethanol, did not permeate at a rate slower than expected, indicative of a possible carrier function. A semiquantitative risk assessment confirmed the unacceptability of both gloves. Persons using personal protective equipment, such as gloves, may not be afforded the expected resistance to chemical permeation when chemicals are in a suitable mixture, hence enhancing the risk of exposure. More research is needed to produce better glove testing measures to ensure the safety of workers.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Female Suicides by Race and Ethnicity.

Each year millions of females develop serious mental illnesses (SMI), which are major risk factors for suicides. Using the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020, we found in 2020 9,428 females (almost 190/week) committed suicide, losing 328,653 years off potential life before age 80 years. There were pronounced increases in female suicides from 2000 to 2020 across all racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of suicides were in non-Hispanic white females, but the highest rate of suicides was in non-Hispanic American Indians /Alaska Natives, and in females 15-24 years of age. The West had the highest female suicide rates, with methods used to commit suicides varying by census regions and race and ethnicity. Suffocation to commit suicide increased for most racial and ethnic groups and poisonings decreased for most groups between 2000 and 2020, These underscore the need for targeted primary prevention of suicides for females based on age, geographic location and method of suicide, to mitigate female suicides improved access (e.g. geographically and financially) to mental health care services is essential.

[Functional outcomes and prognostic factors of firearm-related ocular trauma among soldiers in the conflict zones of Cameroon]. / Résultats fonctionnels et facteurs pronostiques des traumatismes oculaires par armes à feu chez les militaires en zones de conflits au Cameroun.

PURPOSE: To study prognostic factors and functional visual outcomes of soldiers after firearm-related ocular trauma in the conflict zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out from January 2017 to December 2022 in the ophthalmology departments of three military hospitals. Soldiers with firearm-related ocular trauma were selected. Epidemiological and clinical data, prognostic factors and functional outcomes were studied. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS version 23.0 software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 162 eyes of 136 patients were included. The mean age was 28.93±6.52 years. All patients were male. Improvised firearms were the most frequent cause (77%). Bilateral involvement was observed in 26 patients (19.1%). The mean visual acuity of the affected eyes was 1.66±1.04logMAR on admission. Closed globe injuries predominated (72%). The most frequent anatomical lesions of the globe were hyphema (23.4%) and vitreous hemorrhage (19.7%). The mean final visual acuity was 1.38±1.17logMAR, and blindness was observed in 50% of eyes. Factors influencing final visual acuity were type of trauma, initial visual acuity, hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Blindness due to firearm-related eye injuries in the conflict zone of Cameroon is common. Wearing protective glasses or visors might reduce its frequency.

Fighting behavior, conflict perceptions, and firearm access among U.S. adolescents in a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: Prior evidence demonstrates that both firearm access and fighting can predict future violence and injury in adolescents. We aimed to examine associations between firearm access with fighting behavior and conflict perception in a sample of adolescents in an urban emergency department (ED) setting. METHODS: In 2023, we conducted a secondary analysis of 13,610 adolescent encounters in the ED of a U.S. children's hospital from 2013 to 2020, using a universally applied, self-administered computerized behavioral health survey. We compared patient characteristics by reported firearm access and fighting behavior using chi-squared tests. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to investigate associations between 1) fighting behavior and firearm access, and 2) between fighting behavior and respondent preference to and reporting of fighting incident to law enforcement after adjusting for race and ethnicity, age, and gender. RESULTS: Approximately one-quarter of the sample reported past year fighting. Youth who reported fighting were more likely to report firearm access (AOR = 1.66, 95%CI = [1.49-1.86]). This association strengthened among youth who perceived continued conflict after a fight (AOR = 2.05, 95%CI = [1.73-2.43]). Youth who perceived continued conflict following a fight were more likely to report (AOR = 1.97, 95%CI = [1.65-2.36]) or want to report (AOR = 2.63, 95%CI = [1.81-3.81]) the fight to law enforcement. CONCLUSIONS: Those perceiving continued conflict after a fight were more likely to report access to firearms and endorse retaliation; however, they were more likely to want to report the fight to law enforcement. These findings highlight the potential for more comprehensive ED risk assessment to reduce retaliation and reinjury for adolescents reporting fighting behavior.

The deceleration of full metal jacket bullets in compact target models - A new approach.

The wounding potential of a projectile depends on its kinetic energy. The aim of the study was to investigate the deceleration of non-deforming full metal jacket handgun bullets (FMJ) in gelatine blocks of increasing length. The temporary cavity (TC) was visualized using a SA-X2 Photron camera. 126 test shots in 9 mm nominal calibre were fired under strict temperature control conditions (4°C) at small gelatine blocks ranging from 2 to 12 cm in length. The deposited energy was calculated based on the loss of bullet velocity through high-speed video analysis. The length of the TC was measured, when the TC reached its maximum height. The volume of the TC was approximated by a cylinder. Regression analysis showed a linear correlation between the length of the bullet path and the energy transfer. The constant deceleration of the FMJ bullets in gelatine up to 12 cm bullet path was confirmed across various brands and velocity ranges (270-450 m/s). Higher impact velocities correlated with increased loss of energy in the target medium. The shape of the bullet tip influenced the characteristic of deceleration. The volume of the tubular temporary cavity, derived from high-speed video records, was found to be proportional to the energy transferred. The proposed approach might be a valuable tool in advancing wound ballistics research.

Nearly 20 Years Since the Federal Ban: Can State-Level Assault Weapon Prohibitions Fill the Void? Comparative Analysis of Case Fatality and Assault Weapon Recovery in States With and Without an Assault Weapon Ban.

INTRODUCTION: Few states established assault weapon bans (AWBs) after the federal AWB expired. The effectiveness of state AWBs as well as neighboring state legislation, in reducing the local prevalence of assault weapons (AWs) or in reducing overall shooting lethality is unknown. METHODS: We queried the Gun Violence Archive (2014-2021) to identify US firearm injuries and fatalities. Shooting case fatality rates were compared among states with and without AWBs, as reported in the State Firearm Laws Database. Data on recovered firearms was obtained from the ATF Firearms Trace Database and used to estimate weapon prevalence. Recovered firearms were classified as AWs based on caliber (7.62 mm, 5.56 mm, 0.223 cal). We performed spatially weighted linear regression models, with fixed effects for state and year to assess the association between geographically clustered state legislation and firearm outcomes. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2021, the US shooting victim case fatality rate was 8.06% and did not differ among states with and without AWBs. The proportion of AWs to total firearms was 5.0% in states without an AWB and 6.0% in states with an AWB (mean difference [95% CI] = -0.8% [-1.6% to -0.2%], P = 0.03). Most recovered firearms in AWB states originated from non-AWB states. On adjusted models, there was no association between state-level AWB and firearm case fatality; however, adjacency to states with an AWB was associated with lower case fatality (P < 0.001). Clustered AWB states with shared borders had lower AW prevalence and fatality rates than the rest of the US. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated state AWBs are not inversely associated with shooting case fatality rates nor the prevalence of AWs, but AWBs among multiple neighboring states may be associated with both outcomes.

Sensing of Gunshot Residue components from real sample using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer.

The present work represents a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based sensing method for detecting Gunshot Residue (GSR) components. Two laser dyes Acf and RhB have been used as donor and acceptor respectively in the FRET pair. The real sample was collected after test firing in a forensic science laboratory. On the other hand, a standard GSR solution has been prepared in the laboratory. For the preparation of standard GSR solutions, we used the water solutions of the salts BaCl2, SbCl3, and Pb(NO3)2. The FRET efficiency was measured between Acf and RhB to sense the presence of GSR components (Pb+2, Ba+2, and Sb+3) in both real sample and standard solution by mixing the salts in aqueous solution. It has been observed that the FRET efficiency systematically decreases in the presence of GSR components. To amplify the FRET efficiency of the dye pair, inorganic clay dispersion (laponite) was used. The enhancement in FRET efficiency represents a better sensitivity of the proposed sensor. The current sensor is useful for the quantification of concentrations of the GSR components in a real sample.

Firearm Ownership: A Key Factor to Consider in Firearm Suicide Deaths in Children, Despite State Gun Laws.

INTRODUCTION: Firearm-related suicides among children present a significant public health concern and a tragic loss of young lives. This study explores the relationship between firearm-related suicides, gun ownership, and state-specific gun laws. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study collected data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research on children under 18 who died by firearm-related suicides between 2009 and 2016 in all 50 states and D.C. It also utilized data from the RAND State-Level Estimates of Household Firearm Ownership. The study focused on the rate of child firearm suicide deaths per 100,000 individuals. The key variable of interest was the percentage of guns owned per household in each state. Univariable analysis was conducted to examine the association between individual gun laws and child firearm suicide mortalities, while multivariable regression, adjusting for household gun ownership and significant firearm legislation, was employed to assess connection to child firearm suicide mortality. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2016, 3903 children died from firearm-related suicides in the United States. In our analysis, 15 out of 44 firearm laws were found to be associated with reducing the rates of firearm suicides among children (P < 0.05). However, multivariable regression showed that higher state gun ownership rates were the primary predictor of increased child fatalities from firearms, with children in such states being 325% more likely to die when analyzing handgun laws and 337% more likely when analyzing long gun laws, as indicated by coefficients of 4.25 and 4.37, respectively. No state laws alone notably improved death rates. CONCLUSIONS: Gun ownership has a stronger association with child suicide rates than state-specific gun laws. Given the weight of gun ownership, future research should prioritize comprehensive public health initiatives to prevent child firearm-related suicides.

A call for open science in forensics.

The modern canon of open science consists of five "schools of thought" that justify unfettered access to the fruits of scientific research: i) public engagement, ii) democratic right of access, iii) efficiency of knowledge gain, iv) shared technology, and v) better assessment of impact. Here, we introduce a sixth school: due process. Due process under the law includes a right to "discovery" by a defendant of potentially exculpatory evidence held by the prosecution. When such evidence is scientific, due process becomes a Constitutional mandate for open science. To illustrate the significance of this new school, we present a case study from forensics, which centers on a federally funded investigation that reports summary statistics indicating that identification decisions made by forensic firearms examiners are highly accurate. Because of growing concern about validity of forensic methods, the larger scientific community called for public release of the complete analyzable dataset for independent audit and verification. Those in possession of the data opposed release for three years while summary statistics were used by prosecutors to gain admissibility of evidence in criminal trials. Those statistics paint an incomplete picture and hint at flaws in experimental design and analysis. Under the circumstances, withholding the underlying data in a criminal proceeding violates due process. Following the successful open-science model of drug validity testing through "clinical trials," which place strict requirements on experimental design and timing of data release, we argue for registered and open "forensic trials" to ensure transparency and accountability.

Boar hunt or Manhunt? fatality during a wild boar hunting expedition. Need for a multidisciplinary forensic approach.

Hunting is commonly regarded as a prevalent leisure activity in many Western countries. Moreover, hunting-related shooting injuries and fatalities are an important issue in the forensic world. However, there is limited research investigating the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to provide a thorough analysis of these deaths. Being able to distinguish between homicide and accidental death is crucial in hunting-related incidents. In cases of hunting incidents, it also becomes essential to identify the shooter among the participants of the hunting expedition. The authors report a case of death occurred during a wild boar hunting expedition. The autopsy revealed a penetrating gunshot wound that tore the internal iliac artery and caused massive blood loss. A careful and detailed examination of the events leading up to the hunter's death revealed that the bullet first hit a wild boar and then, due to the deflection of the bullet on the animal's humerus, the victim. These deductions represent the culmination of an exhaustive forensic investigation led by experts in multiple scientific and forensic disciplines.