The Truth About Suicide and Guns
2021
This report published by the Brady Campaign provides key data and statistics on firearm suicides and gun violence in the United States. In 2019, more than 60% of gun deaths (23,941 deaths) were from suicide. Firearms only account for 5% of suicide attempts, but are responsible for over half of all suicide deaths. An average of 17.2 veterans die by suicide every day, and over the past 15 years, the firearm suicide rate for boys and young men has increased by 60 percent. Background checks on gun sales, which indicate gun purchasing, increased by 145% from June 2019 to June 2020. Given the backdrop of COVID-19, increased access to guns and increased risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors from pandemic-induced stress creates a dangerous combination for potential firearm crises. The report provides an overview of trends in firearm death rates from 1992 to 2019, discusses the link between suicide and guns, and provides more detail on specific communities (LGBTQ+, men, military members, and children and teens) who are uniquely affected by firearm suicide. It also analyzes trends across different racial and geographic communities. The report recommends policies to prevent and improve the gun suicide epidemic such as implementing waiting periods, including mental health records in background check systems, and passing “Extreme Risk” laws.
The Truth About Suicide and Guns
Source:
The Truth About Suicide and Guns. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 2021. https://www.bradyunited.org/reports/suicide-prevention-report-2018.