Firearm Ownership and Suicide Rates Among US Men and Women, 1981–2013 — Michael Siegel and Emily F. Rothman (2016)
This study examines whether states with higher gun ownership experience higher suicide rates. Analyzing all 50 states over 33 years, the authors find a strong relationship between firearm prevalence and firearm suicide, especially among men.
1. States With More Guns Have More Firearm Suicides—and More Male Suicides Overall
2. Access to Lethal Means Can Turn Crises Into Deaths
3. Suicide Prevention Is Also a Firearm Policy Question
⭐ Star Facts
- In 2013, the U.S. recorded 21,175 firearm suicides and 11,208 firearm homicides.
- Firearm ownership explained 71% of the variation in male firearm suicide rates across states.
- Firearm ownership explained 49% of the variation in female firearm suicide rates across states.
- Every 10-point increase in gun ownership was associated with about 3.1 additional male firearm suicides per 100,000 people.
- Every 10-point increase in gun ownership was associated with about 1.9 additional male suicides overall per 100,000 people.
- Higher gun ownership was linked to more firearm suicides but fewer nonfirearm suicides, suggesting some method substitution occurs.
- The increase in firearm suicides was larger than the decrease in nonfirearm suicides, suggesting substitution is incomplete.
- The authors cite evidence that restricting access to highly lethal methods has reduced suicide rates in places such as Israel, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.