Soaring U.S. gun sales could lead to more deaths, says expert
Fears related to the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest, and the upcoming election are contributing to record gun sales in the U.S.—and more guns to lead to more deaths, says a Harvard Chan expert.
Gun suicide deaths disproportionately high in west and south
Deaths from gun suicide in 11 congressional districts across Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee are roughly double the national average.
Voluntary gun storage may help prevent suicide deaths
Around the U.S., public health practitioners are partnering with gun owners to prevent firearm suicides by encouraging voluntary storage—removal of guns from the home—during times of crisis.
Preventing suicide by limiting access to guns
Roughly half of those who die by suicide in the U.S. use a firearm. That’s why reducing access to lethal means is key to reducing suicides, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Catherine Barber.
Black people more than three times as likely as white people to be killed during a police encounter
Black Americans are 3.23 times more likely than whites to be killed by police.
Engaging with gun rights advocates on suicide prevention
Morissa Sobelson Henn, DrPH ’19, works with gun rights advocates on suicide prevention in Utah.
Counseling parents on safe storage of guns and medications may help prevent youth suicide
Reducing a suicidal person’s access to the most lethal methods, particularly firearms, can play an important role in preventing deaths.
Experts welcome new federal funding for gun research
In December, Congress voted to approve $25 million for gun violence research. Experts hope the new funding will shed light on questions about gun ownership and the effectiveness of firearm policies and violence prevention efforts. The new funding…
Access to guns contributes to rise in teen suicides
A 50% increase in youth suicides in Florida over the past decade has been fueled, in part, by young people’s access to guns, according to a December 30, 2019 article in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The article…
Does creating gun-free zones increase safety?
Some communities have designated certain public spaces, like courthouses and municipal buildings, as gun-free zones. But experts say there’s no conclusive evidence as to whether establishing such zones increases safety. A December 4, 2019 story on WAMU (Washington,…