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Suicide, Firearms, and Data

During the six-year period between 1993 and 1998, the rate of suicide by firearm dropped by approximately 15 percent, while the rate of firearm-related homicides fell by 42 percent and the rate of unintentional firearm-related deaths fell by 47 percent. During the same period, the rate of nonfatal suicide attempts by firearm declined by 48 percent, compared with a 49 percent decrease in the rate of firearm-related assaults and a 37 percent decrease in unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries (1). Given these data, it is safe to assume that the overall increase in self-inflicted injuries seen during this period in U.S. emergency departments was not due to an increase in firearm-related injuries. Furthermore, although we agree with Dr. Berg that firearm availability in the home has been shown to be associated with self-inflicted harm (2), domestic rifle and handgun sales have been decreasing over the past decade (3).

Firearm-related injury remains a serious public health burden, accounting in 1998 for 31,000 deaths and 64,500 nonfatal injuries treated in hospital emergency departments (1). However, firearm-related injuries do not account for the increasing rate of self-inflicted injuries seen in emergency departments.

Andrew L. Brickman, Ph.D. and Devra C. Mintz, M.D., M.P.H.

References

1. Surveillance for fatal and nonfatal firearm-related injuries: United States, 1993-1998. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 50 (SS02):1-32, 2001
2. Kellerman AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, et al: Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership. New England Journal of Medicine 327:467-472, 1992[Abstract]
3. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms: Commerce in Firearms in the United States, February 2000. Available at http://atf.treas.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/020400report.pdf

Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Brickman, A. L. Articles by Mintz, D. C. Search for Related Content Articles by Brickman, A. L. Articles by Mintz, D. C. Chronically Mentally Ill Patients Education, Patient and Family Education, Public Research Design, Methodology Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Suicide

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