Research finding · June 2023
Handgun divestment (getting rid of guns) impacts suicide rates
Firearm divestment (i.e., firearm owners getting rid of their guns) is one of many promising public health approaches to reducing firearm violence, such as lethal means counseling, buyback programs and red flag laws. And although there is a strong correlation between having firearms in the home and an increased risk of suicide, little is known about how much suicide risk declines when firearm ownership ends.
After examining data from 523,182 handgun owners, Dr. Sonja Swanson estimated that divestment reduced firearm suicide risk by 50% or more, and likely reduced overall suicide risk as well. Having direct estimates of the effect of divestment on suicide risk can inform the expected benefits from public health efforts to reduce firearm violence.
Citation: Swanson, S. A., Studdert, D. M., Zhang, Y., Prince, L., & Miller, M. (2023). Handgun Divestment and Risk of Suicide. Epidemiology, 34(1), 99-106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ede.0000000000001549.
This finding comes from an AFSP-funded study — see the grant below ↓
