There is a pervasive fear among gun owners that someone is going to try to take away their guns, and they will be left defenseless against potential invaders of their homes. They are probably not aware that the greatest threat of gun violence is already present and living in their homes.
CNN reports that suicide deaths reached a record high in 2022. Looking at the data comparing states with strong gun safety laws to those that lack effective policies, it is clear that one thing Americans can do to reduce suicide is to enact laws that work:
· Require background checks
· Enforce red flag Laws
· Remove access to firearms
"Guns are the most lethal means of suicide — about 90% of attempts result in death, compared with about 4% for other means. And experts say that limiting access to them is one of the most important ways to help save lives."
"About 72,000 fewer lives would have been lost in the two decades since 1999 to gun suicide if all states had trends in line with the eight states with the strongest gun safety laws." Everytown for Gun Safety
"The use of guns in self-defense by private citizens is extremely rare. Violence Policy Research (VPC) has found a gun is far more likely to be used in a homicide or suicide than in a justifiable homicide. More guns are stolen each year than are used in self-defense.
The gun lobby seeks to expand the carrying of concealed, loaded handguns into an ever-increasing number of public spaces. The main argument used to advance these policies is that guns are a common and effective tool for self-defense. This argument is false." Violence Policy Center
According to the FBI, in 2019, there were only 316 justifiable homicides involving a private citizen using a firearm. Intended victims of violent or property crimes engaged in self-protective behavior involving a firearm in 2% of attempted and completed incidents between 2014 and 2018.
That means 98% of over 330 million Americans have not used guns to protect themselves in recent years. However, because guns are so readily accessible, guns are used for suicide far too often.
"Gun violence is a public health epidemic. In 2021, nearly 49,000 Americans died in suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings, with many more wounded. America's gun death rate is unacceptably high and far above other Western industrialized nations." Violence Policy Center
If having easy access to guns results in higher rates of suicide, then it seems logical that we should find ways to limit access to guns.
To find out how your state ranks in gun safety, take a look at this current research:
"Gun Law Rankings" for 2023 ranks every state based on the strength of their gun laws and shows a correlation between gun deaths and gun laws.
So, the fact is that keeping a gun in your home is more likely to result in a suicide death than in stopping an intruder from entering. That said, nobody is coming to take your guns away. But you can prevent a suicide death by following gun safety guidelines. Common sense gun laws really are just that, common sense.
The Relationship Between Guns and Suicide
In 2022, more than half (55%) of adult suicides in the United States were by gun:
- Adults: 55% of adult suicides were by gun
- Youth: 43% of youth suicides were by gun
Statistics about gun-related suicides in the United States:
- Firearm suicides are the leading cause of firearm-related deaths: In 2020, 54% of firearm-related deaths were suicides.
- Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide: About 85% of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death.
- Access to firearms increases the risk of suicide: Access to a firearm in the home more than triples the odds of suicide.
- Firearm suicide rates vary by location: Suicide rates are generally higher in places where household firearm ownership is more common.
A suicide attempt is a last resort to stop unrelenting mental anguish. It is often spontaneous.
The outcome may come down to the ease of access to a loaded weapon. If a person is at risk, but cannot get their hands on a gun, they might just seek help instead. It is a fact that reducing access to lethal means can save lives.
Reducing Access to Means
Learn how to reduce access to lethal means in your home and in your community: CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means. This free online course is designed to help mental health professionals counsel people at risk for suicide and their families on reducing access to lethal means but is available to anyone who is interested in learning more.
Safely storing firearms when not in use is the simplest strategy. If someone in the home is feeling suicidal, has recently attempted suicide, or is experiencing a crisis, it is safest to remove lethal means from the household entirely until the situation improves.
It’s not just guns we need to reduce access to. While they are the most lethal, another concern is overdosing on drugs. Medications must be stored safely and securely. Don’t keep lethal doses at home. Your doctor, pharmacist, or the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) may be able to help you determine safe quantities for the medicines you need to keep on hand. Be particularly aware of keeping prescription painkillers (such as oxycodone and methadone) under lock and key both because of their lethality and their potential for abuse.
The Means Matter website offers recommendations and data on reducing access to means at home. SPRC provides additional information on Reducing Access to Means.
A
Culture of Caring: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K-12) was
created as a resource for educators who want to know how to get started and
what steps to take to create a suicide prevention plan that will work for their
schools and districts. It is written from my perspective as a school principal
and survivor of suicide loss, not an expert in psychology or counseling. I hope
that any teacher, school counselor, psychologist, principal, or district
administrator can pick up this book, flip to a chapter, and easily find helpful
answers to the questions they are likely to have about what schools can do to
prevent suicide.
