Guns, Suicide, and Homicide
Authors: Robert B. Sklaroff
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Letters17 June 2014Guns, Suicide, and HomicideRobert B. Sklaroff, MDRobert B. Sklaroff, MDFrom Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L14-5012-2 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Because public health research predictably guides a generation of public policy, it is necessary to scrutinize the political science underlying the paired systematic review (1) and editorial (2) on gun control. Challenges are detected to fundamental standards that may compromise an otherwise sound meta-analysis of available literature. The last sentences of each are revelatory. Anglemyer and colleagues' review finds “restricting [access to a firearm in the home] may effectively prevent injury” (1), and Hemenway's accompanying editorial concludes that “obtaining a firearm not only endangers those living in the home but also imposes substantial costs on the community” ...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. [PMID: 24592495] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Hemenway D. Guns, suicide, and homicide: individual-level versus population-level studies [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160:134-5. [PMID: 24592499] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Fisher CE, Lieberman JA. Getting the facts straight about gun violence and mental illness: putting compassion before fear. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:423-4. [PMID: 23836046] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Wheeler TJ. Book review: Private Guns, Private Health. The Freeman. 2005. Google Scholar5. Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Baugher M, Schweers J, Roth C. Firearms and adolescent suicide. A community case-control study. Am J Dis Child. 1993;147:1066-71. [PMID: 8213677] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Robert B. Sklaroff, MDAffiliations: From Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L14-0159. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoGuns, Suicide, and Homicide: Individual-Level Versus Population-Level Studies David Hemenway Guns, Suicide, and Homicide: Individual-Level Versus Population-Level Studies David Hemenway Guns, Suicide, and Homicide Andrew Anglemyer Guns, Suicide, and Homicide David Hemenway Guns, Suicide, and Homicide David Hemenway Guns, Suicide, and Homicide Andrew Anglemyer Metrics Cited byCurbing Firearm ViolenceRobert B. Sklaroff, MD 17 June 2014Volume 160, Issue 12Page: 876-877KeywordsDisclosureFirearm injuriesHomicidePopulation statisticsPrevention, policy, and public healthPsychiatry and mental healthPublic policySuicideSystematic reviewsViolent crime ePublished: 17 June 2014 Issue Published: 17 June 2014 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...