Firearm Legislation Reform in the European Union: Impact on Firearm Availability, Firearm Suicide and Homicide Rates in Austria

This study evaluated the impact of firearm legislation reform on firearm suicides & homicides as well as the availability of firearms in Austria. Official statistics on suicides, firearm homicides, & firearm licences issued from 1985-2005 were examined. To assess the effect of the new firearm law, enacted in 1997, linear regression & Poisson regressions were performed using data from before & after the law reform. The rate of firearm suicides among some age groups, percentage of firearm suicides, as well as the rate of firearm homicides & the rate of firearm licences, significantly decreased after the legislative reform. (31 refs.)