The Cross-national Association of Gun Ownership Rates and Suicide Rates: An Analysis of 194 Nations

Abstract

Objective

To estimate the cross-national association between suicide rates and gun ownership rates

Method

The association is estimated using the largest sample of nations (n = 194) ever employed for this purpose. Three different measures of national gun ownership rates are related to total suicide rates, firearms suicide rates, and non-firearms suicide rates.

Results

Although gun ownership rates have a significant positive association with the rate of firearms suicide, they are unrelated to the total suicide rate.

Conclusions

Consistent with the results of most prior macro-level studies, cross-national data indicate that levels of gun availability appear to affect how many people choose shooting as their method of suicide, but do not affect how many people kill themselves.

Keywords:

• Cross-national
• gun ownership
• suicide rates

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gary Kleck

Gary Kleck, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.