Something
is getting lost in the national debate about gun violence in our country. As horrific as those occasions of mass
killings at schools or in public places are, statistically they are very
rare. Workplace violence and street
crime are far more likely the occasion for firearm homicide. But the largest effect of gun availability is
suicide.
Two-thirds
of all gun-related deaths in the US are suicides (2010 saw 30,470 gun-related deaths:
19,392 or 63% suicide; 11,078 or 36.4% homicide).1 Guns remain the most common method of suicide
(50.7% of suicides in 2006 were gun-related).2
The
US, with 4.5% of the world’s population, owns 40% of the world’s civilian
firearms. But the US is not uniquely
violent. Our overall rates of per capita
violence are similar to Australia, Canada and Western Europe other than
homicide. There are nations with worse
per capita rates for gun homicide: Mexico and Colombia for example. Compared to other developed countries, the US
death by firearm rate of 10.2 per 100,000 is highest in the world. Finland is second with 4.47 per 100,000.3 The difference is in part the wide spread
availability of guns in the United States. Dr. Garen Winemute, University of California Medical
Center, Davis, was recently quoted saying, “That’s the weapons effect. It’s not clear that guns cause violence but
it’s absolutely clear that they change the outcome”.4
That’s
especially true with suicide.
Over 38,000 people in the US die by suicide every
year. A person dies by suicide about
every 14 minutes in the US. 90% of all
people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time
of their death. There are four male
suicides for every female suicide but three times as many females as males
attempt suicide. Men are far more likely
to use a gun. Although most gun owners
reportedly keep a firearm in their home for “protection” or “self-defense”, 83%
of gun related deaths in these homes are a result of a suicide, often by
someone other than the gun owner.2
There
are an estimated 8-25 attempted suicides for every suicide death.2 The use of a gun changes the outcome of the
attempt dramatically. Those attempting
suicide with means other than guns often fail and are given a second chance in
recovery from the attempt. The
devastating effect of a gun rarely fails.
Gun availability is a risk factor for suicide
especially for youth in the US who often attempt suicide on impulse. If they attempt with a gun, usually a handgun,
they are more than likely to succeed in comparison to other suicide means. Adolescents who commit suicide with a gun
overwhelmingly use guns owned by their parents or other family members. In one study in the Northwest, 90% of teen
suicides were from guns, 5% from drug overdoses [or] cutting and piercing (the
second most common means of attempted teen suicide). Statistically those states with more guns per
capita have more deaths by suicide. Gun
owners do not have more mental health problems than non-owners nor are they
more suicidal than non-owners. The
difference is that more guns are available.
The availability of suicide method has a huge impact on the rate of
successful attempts. If there is a gun
available the likelihood of suicide dramatically increases for those
considering suicide as an option.5
It
is not that guns cause suicide but that they dramatically change the outcome.
The
vast majority of gun owners in the United States are law-abiding people
experienced in the safe handling of firearms. They grieve every loss to gun violence, every mass murder victim. They don’t want the criminal or insane to get
their hands on guns any more than those who don’t own guns.
It
is incumbent upon gun owners to safely secure their weapons, especially if they
have teenagers or frail elderly in the home. Trigger locks, home gun safes or vaults or local storage at shooting
range lockers are essential for the safety of those at home. If you choose to have guns in your home,
teaching young people the safe use and care of firearms is paramount.
Such
an admonition may seem patronizing or trite coming from a preacher who chooses
not to own guns. But I’ve hunted. I’ve enjoyed the firing range. I learned a lot in one of California’s “Hunter
Safety Courses”. I’ve associated with
gun owners throughout my life who hold safety as their top priority. I honor those men and women in uniform who
arm themselves to defend our community and nation.
And. I have had family members go through
clinical depression and suicidal episodes.
God forbid that they would choose using a gun at their homes to end
their lives before seeking help.
As
a volunteer police Chaplain in Clovis, California it was my responsibility to
make “death notifications” to residents when family members died. Delivering the news of a suicide, especially
by gun, brings with it overwhelming pain and shock to survivors that leaves
their lives forever changed.
As
a pastor, twice I have talked men out of killing themselves with guns. I don’t want to ever do it again.
If
we are going to continue to be a nation with wide availability and access to
firearms, the cost of suicide by gun must be taken into the equation.
1 National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, 2010
2 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention quoting NCHS/CDC 2010
3 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
4 Huffington Post, 12/20/12, Joe Van Brussel citing
5 Harvard Injury Control Research Center, Harvard School of Public Health