This article discusses the alarming reality of firearm deaths in the Northwest Territories (NWT). In 2001, the NWT rate of death by firearms was double that of the United States & 4 times the Canadian rate. The NWT leads all Canadian provinces & territories with 67% of households reporting firearms (based on averages from 1990-1998). Within that same 8-year period the NWT led all provinces & territories with an average of 16.6 firearm deaths per year compared to 4.3 deaths in Canada as a whole. Gun safety & proper storage are the problem regarding firearm deaths in the north. (LC) (5 refs)