Year: 2003 Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, v.25, no.4, (November 2003), p.320-324 SIEC No: 20100438

A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the associations of state laws restricting firearms & rates of suicide in men & women. In the analysis of women, compared to states with restrictive firearm laws, there were higher suicide incidence rate ratios in states with modest & unrestrictive laws. The analysis of men showed comparable results. Results support the hypothesis that state restrictions on firearms have the potential to reduce the suicide rate. Findings do not support a hypothesis that greater firearm restrictions are associated with the substitution of alternative methods. Although men are more likely to use firearms in suicide than women, this difference may merely reflect more frequent gun ownership among men. (33 refs.) JA