Guns, Suicide, and Homicide: Individual-Level Versus Population-Level Studies
Authors: David Hemenway
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Editorials21 January 2014Guns, Suicide, and Homicide: Individual-Level Versus Population-Level StudiesDavid Hemenway, PhDDavid Hemenway, PhDFrom Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M13-2657 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In a systematic review published in this issue, Anglemyer and colleagues (1) found that access to firearms is associated with the risk for completed suicide (odds ratio, 3.2) and being the victim of homicide (odds ratio, 1.9). These results are consistent with those of previous literature reviews (2, 3). The lack of recent research on these issues is telling: The current review found no relevant study published after 2005. However, I believe that this review provides too conservative an estimate of the relationship among guns and suicide and homicide at a societal level.The evidence that a gun in the ...References1. Anglemyer A, Horvath T, Rutherford G. The accessibility of firearms and risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160:101-10. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Brent DA, Bridge J. Firearm availability and suicide. Am Behav Sci. 2003;46:1192-210. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Hepburn L, Hemenway D. Firearm availability and homicide: a review of the literature. Aggress Violent Behav. 2004;9:417-40. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. National Research Council. Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2005. Google Scholar5. Hemenway D. Private Guns, Public Health. Ann Arbor: Univ Michigan Pr; 2006. Google Scholar6. Miller M, Azrael D, Barber C. Suicide mortality in the United States: the importance of attending to method in understanding population-level disparities in the burden of suicide. Annu Rev Public Health. 2012;33:393-408. [PMID: 22224886] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Betz ME, Barber C, Miller M. Suicidal behavior and firearm access: results from the second injury control and risk survey. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2011;41:384-91. [PMID: 21535097] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Beautrais AL, Joyce PR, Mulder RT. Access to firearms and the risk of suicide: a case control study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1996;30:741-8. [PMID: 9034462] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Campbell JC, Webster D, Koziol-McLain J, Block C, Campbell D, Curry MA, et al. Risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships: results from a multisite case control study. Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1089-97. [PMID: 12835191] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Cook PJ. The great American gun war.. In: Tonry M, eds. Crime and Justice in America: 1975–2025. Chicago: Univ Chicago Pr; 2013:19-73. Google Scholar11. Hemenway D. Risks and benefits of a gun in the home. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2011;5:502-11. CrossrefGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.Disclosures: None disclosed. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-2657.Corresponding Author: David Hemenway, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115; e-mail, [email protected]harvard.edu. 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Taichman, MD, PhD, Executive Deputy Editor and Christine Laine, MD, MPH, Editor in Chief, on behalf of the Annals editors*Guns, Suicide, and HomicideAndrew Anglemyer, PhDGuns, Suicide, and HomicideRobert B. Sklaroff, MD 21 January 2014Volume 160, Issue 2Page: 134-135KeywordsFirearm injuriesForecastingHomicideInformation storage and retrievalPrevention, policy, and public healthPsychiatry and mental healthSafety studiesSuicideSystematic reviews ePublished: 21 January 2014 Issue Published: 21 January 2014 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...