General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGuns and Suicide
"Suicide is the leading cause of gun-related deaths across the country in recent years. Of the 33,636 firearm deaths in 2013, more than 21,000 were suicides. In fact, suicide accounted for more than half of gun-related deaths in all but one state with the most gun violence. In three states — Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming — suicide accounted for more than 80% of all firearm deaths."
Article goes on to give the 10 states with most gun related violence. Interesting in itself that NONE of those states require permits, most rank high in poverty levels, and educational levels and other - what I think - are mitigating factors in being classified as prone to gun violence.
Begs the question - If there was something on the market that people used to commit suicide in those numbers given, wouldn't it be a subject of intense national debate?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/10-states-with-the-most-g_n_7572774.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
malaise
(269,004 posts)Voting ReTHUG would be high on the agenda.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)coverage.
Suicide Methods
https://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/facts-and-figures
Unfortunately firearms are a very effective means, If that was not available, I think other means would increase the same as other countries have higher suicide rates with the other means.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)It is about time folks realized the Tree of Liberty is drowning in a flood of the blood of innocents.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)that has some point here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1172&pid=168314
The commenter pointed out that in pre- and post- gun banning elsewhere, overall suicide rates didn't drop. Ie, that people who were planning to commit suicide weren't actually stopped by the lack of access to guns, they simply found a different means of doing so.
This was depressing, since it counters the notion that people who have more time to think might change their minds on committing suicide, but data is data.
SecularMotion
(7,981 posts)Here are some actual studies
We performed reviews of the academic literature on the effects of gun availability on suicide rates. The preponderance of current evidence indicates that gun availability is a risk factor for youth suicide in the United States. The evidence that gun availability increases the suicide rates of adults is credible, but is currently less compelling. Most of the disaggregate findings of particular studies (e.g. handguns are more of a risk factor than long guns, guns stored unlocked pose a greater risk than guns stored locked) are suggestive but not yet well established.
Across states, more guns = more suicide
Using a validated proxy for firearm ownership rates, we analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period (1988-1997). After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/gun-ownership-and-use/
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Society views responsibility for suicide on the person, whichever issue put them over the edge, or bad mental health treatment.
The method isn't really to blame. Hard to blame inanimate objects for what we do with them.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)... is suicide.
If you or someone you know is despondent, depressed or has experienced major life losses/ changes .... be cautious.
Do not be afraid to discuss firearms (or any other lethal means). Remove lethl tools from your self and others.
If you have adolescents in the house .... do NOT assume that you have taught them about gun safety and that is good enough.
if you must have guns lock them up and do not give (even the most experienced or stable) adolescent access without you. Adolescents are impulsive and are masters of hiding their true intentions from you.
I despise guns .... but this is a different issue .... regardless of your feelings about guns do everything you can to keep yourself and others safe. do not make assumptions about yourself or those you love
All gun deaths are serious and a loss.
sarisataka
(18,655 posts)for some it is all about guns (or gunz depending)
It should be about lives.
I have had two people close to me contemplate suicide by gun. In one case we were able to separate the gun from the person and convince them to go into treatment. He is living a healthy happy life.
In the other case it was not known she had a gun (apparently for a long time) and hid her depression. That did not turn out well.
Guns are dangerous, keep them secure. Depression will kill you, one way or another- get help.
beevul
(12,194 posts)"Article goes on to give the 10 states with most gun related violence."
No, it does not.
It goes on to list the 10 states with the "highest RATE of gun violence", NOT the "ten states with the most gun violence".
"Highest rate of gun violence" and "the most gun related violence" are two VERY different things.
