State Gun Laws and Firearm Suicide Rates

What state gun laws, if any, are associated with reduced rates of firearm suicide?In this cross-sectional study of 2450 observations collected from 1976 to 2024, the mean overall rate of suicide was 13.7 deaths per 100 000, with 7.9 deaths per 100 000 for firearm-related suicide and 5.8 deaths per 100 000 for non–firearm-related suicide across the study period. Handgun permit requirements, waiting periods, and requiring a license for concealed carry were significantly associated with a reduction in firearm suicide rates.These findings suggest that laws restricting access to guns may be effective in reducing rates of firearm suicide.

Corresponding Author: Michael Siegel, MD, MPH, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111 (mike.siegel@tufts.edu).

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