GroundReport | United States | Research Shows Gun Owners Have Themselves To Fear

Research Shows Gun Owners Have Themselves To Fear

by Can Tran June 30, 2008

It was only last week that the United States Supreme Court had overturned Washington DC’s ban on handguns. This was a victory for gun owners and gun-rights advocates across the nation. Possibly the same thing will happen across other cities in the United States.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has filed a suit against the city of San Francisco, California to overturn a ban on handguns in public housing. Another similar suit had been filed in Chicago, Illinois as well. Even though the ban on handguns has been overturned, it does not mean people will be shooting each other.

But, new information shows that gun owners have themselves to fear. About fifty-five percent of gun related deaths are by suicide. This is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Back in 2005, there were about a little over 30,000 deaths by firearms. Still, the percentage trumped gun-related murders.

The real danger guns present are not in public; but, within the confines of the homes of those gun owners from what the information shows. It seems very obvious and logical because guns are present at all time. The research adds that households that do have firearms present are more likely to have gun-related suicides.

This is a rather interesting study as with a bit over half of gun related deaths are suicides. In addition, about 90 percent of gun-related suicides are successful.

However, critics of the ban do say if guns are not available, there are other means of committing suicide. That does ring true as well. When you take one tool away, suicidal people will simply find another means.

A few weeks ago, I had written an article on how Mexico is the location of a new type of tourism: euthanasia tourism. One example, if one does not have a handgun and wants to commit suicide, that person could fly out to Mexico, visit a few pet shots, and purchase euthanasia drugs.

When the US Supreme Court struck down the ban on handguns, Justice Stephen Breyer voiced his dissent. He cited suicide as one factor for his criticism for overturning the gun ban.

While pro-gun advocates are looking to have gun bans overturned from one city to another, gun ban supporters now have new ammunition to use in form of gun-related suicides.