An examination of types of suicide shows that only the rate of suicide by means of firearms has risen continously over the past 25 years. From 1953 to 1978, the age-adjusted rate of suicide by firearms increased from 4.9 to 7.1 per 100,000, whereas the age-adjusted rate of suicide by all other means remained the same. Author examines the possible explanations for this increase and concludes that the rise in the suicide rate might be controlled by restricting the sale of handguns.(DD)