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Restrictive Firearm Laws and Firearm-Related Suicide
Bradley Kawano1, Suresh Agarwal1, Vijay Krishnamoorthy2,3
1From the Division of Trauma, Acute, and Critical Care Surgery, Department of Surgery (Kawano, Agarwal Fernandez-Moure, Haines), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
|December 15, 2022
Summary
Restrictive firearm laws, including background checks and waiting periods, are linked to lower firearm suicide rates. These laws may prevent gun access or complement other suicide prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Criminology
Background:
- Firearm-related mortalities represent a significant public health concern in the US.
- In 2017, 23,854 firearm suicides accounted for 60% of all gun deaths.
- Understanding the impact of firearm laws on suicide rates is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between state-level restrictive firearm laws and firearm suicide rates.
- To analyze the impact of specific laws like background checks and waiting periods.
Main Methods:
- Ecological study using CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (2009-2018).
- Examined decedents over 18 who died from intentional self-harm with firearms.
- Analyzed state-level laws: background checks, mandatory waiting periods, prohibited possession.
Main Results:
- States with background checks, waiting periods, and prohibited possession had lower overall firearm suicide rates (p < 0.05).
- Background checks and waiting periods were associated with reduced handgun and large firearm suicide rates (p < 0.05).
- A total of 208,621 firearm suicides occurred between 2009 and 2018.
Conclusions:
- Background checks and mandatory waiting periods correlate with reduced firearm suicides.
- The observed reduction may stem from direct firearm access prevention or concurrent suicide prevention measures.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which firearm laws impact suicide rates.
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