Firearm Suicides and Homicides in the United States: Regional Variations and Patterns of Gun Ownership

Publication Date: January 1998

Publisher: Social Science and Medicine

Author(s): M.S. Kaplan; O. Geling

Research Area:

Keywords: suicide; gender ; gun availability

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Among industrialized countries, the United States has the highest rates of firearm suicide and homicide, as well as the highest rate of gun ownership. This study compares the differential impact of gun availability on firearm suicides and homicides in the U.S.
It computed rates of firearm and non-firearm suicides and homicides as well as rates of gun ownership for four gender-race groups. It also tested the strength of the associations between gun availability and firearm suicide and homicide rates.
The results show that gun ownership has a stronger impact on firearm suicides than homicides. These findings held up after stratifying by gender and race. The study suggests that reducing the aggregate level of gun availability may decrease the risk of firearm-related deaths.