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Gun control and suicide: The impact of state firearm regulations in the United States, 1995-2004

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  • Rodríguez Andrés, Antonio
  • Hempstead, Katherine

Abstract

Objective To empirically assess the impact of firearm regulation on male suicides.Method A negative binomial regression model was applied by using a panel of state level data for the years 1995-2004. The model was used to identify the association between several firearm regulations and male suicide rates.Results Our empirical analysis suggest that firearms regulations which function to reduce overall gun availability have a significant deterrent effect on male suicide, while regulations that seek to prohibit high risk individuals from owning firearms have a lesser effect.Conclusions Restricting access to lethal means has been identified as an effective approach to suicide prevention, and firearms regulations are one way to reduce gun availability. The analysis suggests that gun control measures such as permit and licensing requirements have a negative effect on suicide rates among males. Since there is considerable heterogeneity among states with regard to gun control, these results suggest that there are opportunities for many states to reduce suicide by expanding their firearms regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodríguez Andrés, Antonio & Hempstead, Katherine, 2011. "Gun control and suicide: The impact of state firearm regulations in the United States, 1995-2004," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(1), pages 95-103, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:101:y:2011:i:1:p:95-103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Christoph Koenig & David Schindler, 2023. "Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership, and Homicides: Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 105(5), pages 1271-1286, September.
    3. Vars, Fredrick E. & Meadows, Benjamin & Edwards, Griffin, 2022. "Slipping Through the Cracks? The Impact of Reporting Mental Health Records to the National Firearm Background Check System," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 52-74.
    4. Zhai, Muxin & Kishan, Ruby P. & Showalter, Dean, 2022. "Social capital and suicidal behaviors: Evidence from the United States counties," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Koenig, Christoph & Schindler, David, 2018. "Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership and Homicides : Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock," Discussion Paper 2018-043, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    6. Christoph Koenig & David Schindler, 2018. "Dynamics in Gun Ownership and Crime - Evidence from the Aftermath of Sandy Hook," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 18/694, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    7. Hamlin, Daniel, 2021. "Are gun ownership rates and regulations associated with firearm incidents in American schools? A forty-year analysis (1980–2019)," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    8. Choi, Namkee G. & DiNitto, Diana M. & Marti, C. Nathan, 2017. "Youth firearm suicide: Precipitating/risk factors and gun access," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 9-16.
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    10. Nathan T. Dollar & Iliya Gutin & Elizabeth M. Lawrence & David B. Braudt & Samuel Fishman & Richard G. Rogers & Robert A. Hummer, 2020. "The persistent southern disadvantage in US early life mortality, 1965‒2014," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(11), pages 343-382.
    11. Lee, Kangoh, 2015. "Federalism, guns, and jurisdictional gun policies," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 141-153.
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