Macro‐Level Research on the Effect of Firearms Prevalence on Suicide Rates: A Systematic Review and New Evidence

Gary Kleck

Social Science Quarterly, 2019, vol. 100, issue 3, 936-950

Abstract: Objective To systematically review the methods and findings of previous macro‐level research on the effect of firearms prevalence on suicide rates, and carry out a better state‐level analysis. Methods A cross‐sectional model of suicide rates is estimated with weighted least squares, using direct survey measures of gun prevalence. Results and Conclusion Prior macro‐level research is afflicted by the use of small samples of large heterogeneous units, invalid measures of gun prevalence, and few controls for confounders. The methodologically soundest prior research indicates that gun prevalence affects rates of gun suicides, but not total suicides. The new analysis likewise finds no significant effect of gun prevalence on total suicide rates.

Date: 2019
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https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12602

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