Table 1 Characteristics of letters to the editors regarding gun in the home articles, letters written by authors of the original articles in response, and letters to the editors regarding articles on other topics
From: Letters to the editor in response to studies of guns in the home and homicide and suicide
| Â | Gun in the home articles | Other articles | |
|---|---|---|---|
Letters to the editor n = 24 | Author’s replies n = 6 | Letters to the editor n = 57 | |
| Â | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) |
Scientific discussion | 17 (70.1%) | 6 (100%) | 52 (91.2%) |
Political reference | 11 (45.8%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (3.5%) |
Character critique | 4 (16.7%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (1.8%) |
Journal critique | 6 (25.0%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (3.5%) |
Pro-gun reference | 7 (29.2%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Anti-gun reference | 6 (25.0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
National Rifle Association (NRA) reference | 3 (12.5%) | 2 (33.3%) | 0 (0%) |
Reference to organization in opposition to NRA | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Constitution or 2nd Amendment reference | 3 (12.5%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Disagree with article | 17 (70.8%) | 0 (0%) | 32 (56.1%) |
Number of scientific citations, median | 1 | 4 | 4 |