This study explores the hypothesis that restricting access to firearms would reduce the risk for firearm precipitated homicide & suicide, as well as reduce the overall homicide & suicide rates. The findings suggest that, as firearms became less common in Canada from 1970 to 1995, possibly as a result of the passage of a strict firearm control law in 1977, the use of firearms for suicide & homicide became less common, but the use of other methods became more common, indicating that people may have switched methods for suicide & homicide. (9 refs)