Firearm Retailers and Suicide: Results from a Survey Assessing Willingness to Engage in Prevention Efforts — Thomas Walton & Jennifer Stuber (2019)
This study examines whether firearm retailers are willing to participate in suicide prevention efforts. Surveying Washington gun-store owners, the authors explore retailers’ knowledge of suicide, attitudes toward intervention, and willingness to promote safe storage and prevention messaging.
1. Firearm Retailers Can Play a Role in Suicide Prevention
2. Many Retailers Are Willing to Help
3. Knowledge and Belief Increase Engagement
4. The Biggest Barrier Is Responsibility, Not Stigma
⭐ Star Facts
- Nearly two-thirds of firearm deaths in the United States are suicides.
- 65% of retailers were interested in learning how firearm retailers can help prevent suicide.
- 73% were willing to provide employee suicide-prevention training if it were free.
- Nearly 70% personally knew someone who died by suicide.
- Most retailers underestimated the share of firearm deaths caused by suicide.
- Believing that suicide is preventable was one of the strongest predictors of willingness to help.
- The strongest barrier was the belief that discussing personal issues is not the retailer’s responsibility.
- Concern about offending customers was common, but it did not significantly reduce willingness to participate.