New York Times
A new study has found that four gun laws are significantly associated with lower rates of firearm suicide.
Researchers
gathered data on the presence or absence of four firearm laws in each
state: waiting periods for gun purchases, background checks for purchase
or licensing, hand gun locks, and restrictions on the open carrying of
handguns. Then they collected the data on gun suicide rates in each
state. The study is in The American Journal of Public Health.
After
controlling for population density, race and ethnicity, education,
poverty and age, they found that each of the four laws was associated
with a lower rate of suicide by gun as well as a lower overall rate of
suicide.
In 11 states with waiting periods, the
longer the waiting period, the lower the gun suicide rate. Compared with
states without the laws, background checks were associated with a 53
percent lower gun suicide rate, gun locks with a 68 percent lower rate,
and restrictions on open carrying a 42 percent lower rate.