Rates of firearm suicide have changed little over the past two decades & have consistently exceeded rates of firearm homicide in the United States. The firearm suicide rate among men is approximately 6 times that of women. While firearm suicide rates are highest among the elderly, the majority (66%) of firearms suicides are among persons under 55 years of age. Firearm suicide rates among women of all ages have dropped modestly, while rates among elderly men have risen considerably. Whites have roughly twice the rate of firearm suicide as do blacks & other ethnic groups. Individual-level empirical studies have consistently indicated that keeping firearms in the home is associated with an increased risk of suicide. (12 refs.)
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