Explored the validity of several indirect measures of firearm ownership in the USA: the percentage of homicides & suicides committed with firearms, the accidental death rate from firearms, the strictness of state handgun control laws, & subscription rates to firearm magazines. These measures were then correlated with rates of suicide & homicide, & it was found that states with a greater availability of firearms had higher firearm suicide rates & higher firearm homicide rates. (12 refs.)