Effects of changes in permit-to-purchase handgun laws in Connecticut and Missouri on suicide rates

Abstract Objective In 2013, more than 40,000 individuals died from suicide in the United States. Restricting access to lethal means has the potential to prevent suicide, as suicidal thoughts are often transient. Permit-to-purchase (PTP) laws for handguns could potentially reduce suicides by making i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPreventive medicine Vol. 79; pp. 43 - 49
Main Authors Crifasi, Cassandra K, Meyers, John Speed, Vernick, Jon S, Webster, Daniel W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2015
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Connecticut
Evaluation
Female
Firearms
Firearms - legislation & jurisprudence
Humans
Internal Medicine
Legislation
Male
Missouri
Models, Statistical
Public Policy
Risk Factors
Suicide
Suicide - prevention & control
Suicide - trends
Young Adult
Connecticut
Missouri
Evaluation
Firearms
Suicide
Legislation
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Summary:Abstract Objective In 2013, more than 40,000 individuals died from suicide in the United States. Restricting access to lethal means has the potential to prevent suicide, as suicidal thoughts are often transient. Permit-to-purchase (PTP) laws for handguns could potentially reduce suicides by making it more difficult for persons at risk of suicide to purchase a handgun. Methods We used a quasi-experimental research design with annual, state-level suicide data to evaluate changes to PTP laws in Connecticut and Missouri. Data were analyzed for 1981–2012. We used synthetic control modeling as the primary method to estimate policy effects. This methodology provided better prediction of pre-PTP-law-change trends in the two states with PTP law changes than econometric models and is thus likely to provide more accurate estimates of policy effects. Results The synthetic control model estimated a 15.4% reduction in firearm suicide rates associated with Connecticut's PTP law. Missouri's PTP law repeal was associated with a 16.1% increase in firearm suicide rates. Evidence that PTP laws were associated with non-firearm suicide rates was mixed in Connecticut and negative in Missouri. Conclusion The findings are consistent with prior research linking firearm availability to increased risk of suicide and lower suicide risks associated with PTP handgun laws.
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ISSN:0091-7435
1096-0260
DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.07.013