4 Topic Commentaries

Five state gun laws may be tied to lower suicide rates

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  Shannon Frattaroli, PhD, MPH

  Injury prevention and health policy (extreme risk protection orders)

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  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  The evidence we have suggests they are most promising for suicide.

  Source
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  Veronica Pear, PhD, MPH

  Social epidemiology; firearm policy and violence prevention

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  University of California, Davis Health

  The findings suggest GVROs are being used as intended — to remove firearms from individuals threatening to harm themselves, their intimate partners, co-workers, classmates or the general public.

  Source
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  David Hemenway, PhD

  Injury prevention; suicide prevention; firearm policy

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  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  Studies show that most attempters act on impulse, in moments of panic or despair. Once the acute feelings ease, 90 percent do not go on to die by suicide.

  Source
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  Daniel Webster, ScD, MPH

  Gun violence prevention policy and public health

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  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  Just as research indicates that handgun purchaser licensing laws are effective in reducing firearm homicides, they could reduce suicides by firearms as well.

  Source