The Effects of Waiting Periods on Firearm Suicides in the U.S

Hussain Hadah (), Gael Compta and Ali Saffouri
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Hussain Hadah: Tulane University
Gael Compta: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University,
Ali Saffouri: . T. Bauer College of Business, Department of Finance, University of Houston,

No 18624, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the causal effect of mandatory firearm waiting periods on suicide rates using difference-in-differences methodology. We find waiting periods reduce overall firearm suicides by 12% (0.92 deaths per 100,000), with steeper declines among white individuals (37%) and adults over 55 (40%). We find no evidence of substitution toward non-firearm methods; conversely, repealing these laws increases firearm suicides. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that waiting periods prevent approximately 3,000 deaths annually, generating $41 billion in social benefits. These findings demonstrate that "cooling-off periods" effectively disrupt the transition from suicidal ideation to action by delaying access to lethal means.

Keywords: firearm waiting periods; suicide prevention; gun policy; public health; difference-in-differences; event-study design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H75 I12 I18 J17 K32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18624

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