Suicide, Guns and from Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law
Suicides are a major public health problem in the United States, and there is a strong association between the availability of firearms and the rate of suicide. Every year in the United States, there are more suicides than homicides, and more gun suicides than gun homicides. Guns are the method of choice in U.S. suicides; indeed, more people kill themselves with guns than with all other methods combined. From 1988 to 2007, over 350,000 Americans have committed suicide with a firearm. White males are at especially high risk for suicide and for gun suicide in particular. From 2003 to 2007, guns have accounted for 57 percent of male suicides and over 30 percent of female suicides. Firearms are one of the most lethal methods of suicide.