New Report Highlights The Lethal Nexus Between Guns & Suicide

New Resource Urges Lawmakers to Combat Rising Suicide Rates By Enacting Proven Lifesaving Solutions  

Guns Are Used in Just 5% of Suicide Attempts But Result In 50% Of All Suicide Deaths

WASHINGTON DC — As our nation struggles to combat a deadly gun suicide crisis that has claimed over 300,000 Americans since 2000, a new report released today in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Week highlights the lethal nexus between gun access and suicide. Published by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, and its partner organization the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Confronting the Inevitability Myth: How Data-Driven Gun Policies Save Lives from Suicide urges lawmakers to combat rising suicide rates by enacting proven lifesaving solutions.  

“The relationship between easy access to guns and suicide rates is undeniable. Guns are only used in 5% of suicide attempts but result in nearly 50% of all suicide deaths,” said Robyn Thomas, Executive Director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Too many Americans, including lawmakers, buy into the myth that suicide is inevitable and that there’s nothing we can do to stop it. Our new report gathers research from across the field to prove that prevention is possible. Smart gun laws are already saving lives from suicide in the states with the courage to pass commonsense policies like waiting periods for gun purchases and universal background checks. It’s past time that lawmakers in ...