Objective:
This research study examined the relationship between a state’s total number of firearm laws and suicide and homicide mortality. Even with other state characteristics (such as unemployment rate and prevalence of gun ownership) taken into consideration, the total number of gun laws were predictive of states firearm suicide and homicide rates. States with more gun laws had on average, lower suicide and homicide rates.
Method:
Using the State Firearm Law Database (www.statefirearmlaws.org), suicide and homicide rates were compared across the 50 US states from 1991 to 2017. A firearm regulations index was computed to represent the total number of state firearm laws. Generalized estimating equations were used to explore population-level increases or decreases in firearm regulations and their association with state suicide and homicide rates after controlling for several state-level covariates.
Project Status:
Completed
Principal Investigator (PI):
John F Gunn III, PhD, Paul Boxer, PhD, Tracy Andrews, PhD, Michael Ostermann, PhD, Stephanie L Bonne, MD, Michael Gusmano, PhD, Elizabeth Sloan-Power, PhD MSW, Bernadette C. Hohl, PhD