The
following data on suicide and firearms suggest that this evidence can
be viewed as a warning to us in the UK that these are some of the effects
of firearm possession. Most articles predict that the storage of a
firearm in the home predicts an increased rate of a violent death. The
articles have been referenced so that those interested can obtain further
information.
Rich, C L; Wagner, J;
Fowler, R C;
Young, J G;
Black, N A ‘Guns and suicide: possible effects of some specific
legislation’ in American Journal of Psychiatry; 147 (Mar 90)
p.342-6
Describes suicide rates in Toronto and Ontario and methods used for
suicide in Toronto for 5 years before and after enactment of Canadian gun
control legislation in 1978. Presents data form San Diego, California,
where state laws attempt to limit access to guns by certain psychiatric
patients. Both sets of data indicate that gun control legislation may have
led to decreased use of guns by suicidal men, but the difference was
apparently offset by an increase in suicide by leaping.
Wintemute, G J;
Kraus, J F;
Teret, S P;
Wright, M W ‘The choice of weapons in firearm suicides’ in
American Journal of Public Health; 78 (Jul 88) p.824-6
Reports on the firearms used in 235 suicides in Sacramento County,
California, during 1983-85. Handguns were used in 69 per cent of firearm
suicides, 65 per cent for males, 88 per cent for females, and in all such
deaths among women ages 35 and older.
Shah, S;
Hoffman, R E;
Wake, L;
Marine, W M in Journal of Adolescent Health; 26 (3) Mar
2000, p.157-63
Aimed to determine whether,
compared with age- and sex-matched controls who did not commit suicide,
adolescents who committed suicide by firearms were more likely to have had
household access to firearms. Concludes that two types of public health
interventions to prevent adolescent firearm suicides are likely to be
successful: limiting household access to firearms, and identifying
adolescents at high risk of firearm suicide
Cummings, P;
Koepsell, T D;
Grossman, D C;
Savarino, J;
Thompson, R S ‘The association between the purchase of a
handgun and homicide or suicide’ in American Journal of Public Health;
87 (6) Jun 97, p.974-8
A case-control study was done
among the members of a large health maintenance organization. Case
subjects were the 353 suicide victims and 117 homicide victims among the members from
1980-1992. 5 control subjects were matched to each case subject on age,
sex, and zip code of residence. Handgun purchase information was obtained
from the Department of Licensing. For both suicide and homicide, the
elevated relative risks persisted for more than 5 years after the
purchase. Legal purchase of a handgun appears to be associated with a
long-lasting increased risk of violent death.
Kaplan, M S;
Adamek, M E;
Geling, O;
Calderon, A ‘Firearm suicide among older women in the US.’ in
Social Science and Medicine; 44 (9) May 97, p.1427-30
Contrary to the common view
that older women (65+) in the United States use suicide methods that have
relatively low potential for death, firearms have become the most common
suicide method in this group. Examines the association between demographic
and geographic factors and the use of firearms vs other suicide methods.
Dudley, M;
Cantor, C;
Moore, G de ‘Jumping the gun: firearms and the mental health
of Australians’ in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry; 30
(3) Jun 96, p.370-81
Reports that 85% of firearm
deaths are triggered by distress as opposed to crime and that most firearm
homicides are intrafamilial or involve familiar people. Finds a causal
relationship between gun ownership and firearm suicides and homicides.
Suggests a modest increase in risk of firearms misuse among those
suffering from a psychiatric disorder.
Liu, T;
Waterbor, J W ‘Declining use of firearms to commit suicide in
Alabama in the 1980s’ in Journal of Death and
Dying; 30 (2) 1994-95, p.145-53
Trends in method of suicide was
examined from 1980-1989. 78.7% of suicides were victims of firearms.
Whites had a higher risk of using firearms in suicide. Comparing to single
marital status, married, widowed, and divorced people all had increased
risks of using firearms. Those living in rural areas were more likely to
use firearms in suicide; there was an increasing trend of firearm use with
age. But the risk of using firearms to commit suicide has declined in
recent years
Zwerling, C;
Lynch, C F;
Burmeister, L F;
Goertz, U in
American Journal of Public Health; 83 (11) Nov
93, p.1630-2
Tests the hypothesis that the
use of handguns, rifles, and shotguns in such suicides reflects the
availability of these weapons. The percentage of firearm suicides
involving handguns increased from 36.6% in 1980-1989 to 43.3% during 1990
and 1991. Data suggest that handguns are disproportionately represented
among firearm suicides and that this overrepresentation has increased
during the last decade.
Malmberg, A;
Hawton, K;
Simkin, S ‘A study of suicide in farmers in England and Wales’
in Journal of Psychosomatic Research; 43 (1) Jul 97, p.107-11
A psychological autopsy study
of suicide in 84 farmers who died between 1991-1994 is presented and some
preliminary findings are discussed. The proportional mortality ratio for
suicide is higher in farmers than in the general population. The reasons
for this are likely to be complex, but may include easy availability of
firearms, stress related to work, financial difficulties, and family
problems.
Shah, S;
Hoffman, R E;
Wake, L;
Marine, W M ‘Adolescent suicide and household access to
firearms in Colorado: results of a case-control study’ in Journal of
Adolescent Health; 26 (3) Mar 2000, p.157-63
Aimed to determine whether, compared with age- and
sex-matched controls who did not commit suicide, adolescents who committed
suicide by firearms were more likely to have had household access to
firearms. Concludes that two types of public health interventions to
prevent adolescent firearm suicides are likely to be successful: limiting
household access to firearms, and identifying adolescents at high risk of
firearm suicide.
