This study reports the types of firearms used in firearm suicides in Iowa and tests the hypothesis that the use of handguns, rifles, and shotguns in such suicides reflects the availability of these weapons. The percentage of firearm suicides involving handguns increased from 36.6% in 1980-1984 to 43.3% during 1990 & 1991. The data suggest that, handguns are disproportionately represented among firearm suicides and that this overrepresentation has increased during the last decade.