The Effect of Firearms Prevalence on Suicide Rates

• In Event: Firearms in Different Contexts

Abstract

This paper systematically reviews the methods and findings of previous macro-level research on the effect of firearms prevalence on suicide rates, and reports the results of new analyses. The major methodological flaws of prior research are identified and the betters of technically sounder studies are compared with those of less technically sound studies. It is found that all methodologically stronger studies fail to find any significant net effect of gun prevalence on total suicide rates. Prior research consistently indicates that gun prevalence affects whether suicides are committed by shooting, but the technically stronger studies all find no net effect on total (firearms or nonfirearms) suicide rates.
A new analysis of state-level data improves on prior research by avoiding or minimizing the shortcomings afflicting prior research. It analyzes a large sample of macro-level units, uses a valid measure of gun prevalence, and controls for a large number of confounding variables. The analysis demonstrates the powerfully biasing effects of failing to control for confounding variables, and finds no significant net effect of gun prevalence on total suicide rates.

Author

• Gary Kleck, Florida State University