The New York Times (11/17, Rabin) reports, “Gun violence kills about 40,000 Americans” annually, with the “majority” of those deaths suicides. In fact, “just over half of suicides involve guns.” Now, a growing worry “about suicides has led to an unusual alliance between suicide-prevention advocates and gun-rights proponents; together they are devising new strategies to prevent suicide in a population committed to the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.” The article details a number of ongoing initiatives and efforts to stem the tide of gun-related suicides, particularly now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People Who Buy Guns During Pandemic More Likely To Be Suicidal Than Those Who Already Own Firearms, Researchers Say. HealthDay (11/17) reports, “Those who buy guns as the pandemic rages are more likely to be suicidal than those who already own firearms,” researchers concluded after surveying some “3,500 Americans,” a third of whom owned guns. The study revealed that “among people who bought guns during the pandemic, about 70% reported having suicidal thoughts, while just 37% of other gun owners had such thoughts.” The findings were published online Nov. 17 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.’
Related Links:
— “Buying Gun During Pandemic Might Raise Suicide Risk ” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, November 17, 2020