Firearm-related deaths in New York City declined more than 30 percent between 2000 and 2011, according to a new Health Department study.
The number of deaths dropped from 524 in 2000 to 366 in 2011.
The city’s firearm fatality rate is less than half that of the national rate, which showed no decline during the same 11-year period. Its rate is also lower than most major cities.
The number of New Yorkers hospitalized with gun-related injuries declined by 21 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Although the rates included homicides, accidents and suicides, 84 percent of firearm deaths in 2011 were attributed to murders.
In his weekly radio address Sunday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke about the city’s continuing efforts in fighting gun violence.
“We’re working every day to address this epidemic by targeting police resources where they’re most needed and implementing the same pro-active law enforcement strategies that have proven so effective citywide,” he said. “We will continue doing everything we can to keep illegal guns off our streets, because the more people we can keep from carrying guns, the more lives we can save.”
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