Day by day, the number of forensic incidents involving firearms is increasing. Most of these incidents result in death or injury. There are even some cases where the suspect isn't identified.
One of the fundamental values of the 20th century is the sanctity of human life. Although it is now accepted in societies that the identification of the perpetrator and bringing the perpetrator to justice, especially in cases of death, is among the basic duties of the state; the idea that what should be done is to protect human life by preventing judicial incidents before they happen is now seen more crucial. Unfortunately, deaths and injuries caused by firearms cannot be prevented and the numbers of deaths and injuries continue to increase day by day. Therefore there is a need for research to determine different types of cartridges and gunshots in different environments in order to illuminate these incidents.
It is evaluated that the results of this study will make a significant contribution to the prevention of crime and the reduction of forensic incidents with firearms. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a statistically meaningful difference between the sound intensity levels of subsonic and supersonic cartridges in short-barreled firearms at different altitudes, both without and with the use of any sound suppression system. The results of this study are expected to make a significant contribution to the prevention of crime and the reduction of judicial incidents that occur with firearms.
In Forensic Sciences, it is a known fact that many events have been illuminated as a result of the examination and comparison of sound frequencies and sound intensity levels. Hereupon, it may be possible to determine informations such as the location and detection of the suspect
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and the type of weapon, when the sound emitted from the weapon is measured in these occurred incidents.
As a result of our study, there was no meaningful difference in sound intensity levels between altitudes of 0 and 290, when shooting with subsonic cartridges without sound suppressor system and with supersonic cartridges using a 4-knuckle sound suppressor system. The sound intensity level obtained from the shots fired with the supersonic cartridge without sound suppressor system at an altitude of 290 was meaningfully higher than that at altitude of 0. The sound intensity level obtained at 0 altitude was significantly higher than that obtained at altitude of 290 when shooting with subsonic cartridges using 4 and 6 knuckle sound suppressor systems and with supersonic cartridges using 6 knuckle sound suppressor systems.
Ultimately, it was found that the average sound intensity levels of subsonic and supersonic cartridges showed a tendency of increase or decrease at inverse ratio at low and high altitudes, without and with sound suppressor systems. |