Quote:
Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist
I discussed this a few years ago on here with mikey, but we focus on the murder part of the equation often and miss the suicide part. The vast majority of suicides are impulsive, and guns ensure a high rate of success. I had the studies and numbers before, but don't care to look then up again. Basically, those who are unsuccessful at suicide don't ever try again (lots of studies to back this up). When looking at the various ways people kill themselves, most have barriers that his do not. For example, jumping off a bridge requires overcoming far more psychological barriers. Swallowing pills is less successful and the victim doesn't know the outcome. Guns are quick and easily used. Decreasing availability of guns most likely would lead to a significant decrease in suicides too
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It's all tied together with the availability, a big percentage of 2nd degree murders wouldn't happen if there was no gun "handy" when someone snaps in a fit of rage, over 1600 people died last year from accidental gun deaths and about half were under 14 years old.