Develops a sociocultural perspective to explain: main differences in method by sex & regional variations over time by sex & to differentiate between regional &/or cultural areas in their use of firearms as a means of self-destruction. Availability is shown to consist of at least 2 dimensions: physical presence of a method & its sociocultural acceptability. Advances suicidal threshold to suggest a level that one must reach before a suicidal process develops & results in self-inflicted death.