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The association between the purchase of a handgun and homicide or suicide

Author

Listed:
  • Cummings, P.
  • Koepsell, T.D.
  • Grossman, D.C.
  • Savarino, J.
  • Thompson, R.S.

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether purchase of a handgun from a licensed dealer is associated with the risk of homicide or suicide and whether any association varies in relation to time since purchase. Methods. A case-control study was done among the members of a large health maintenance organization. Case subjects were the 353 suicide victims and 117 homicide victims among the members from 1980 through 1992. Five control subjects were matched to each case subject on age, sex, and zip code of residence. Handgun purchase information was obtained from the Department of Licensing. Results. The adjusted relative risk for suicide was 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4, 2.5) for persons with a history of family handgun purchase from a registered dealer. The adjusted relative risk for homicide, given a history of family handgun purchase, was 2.2 (95% CI = 1.3, 3.7). For both suicide and homicide, the elevated relative risks persisted for more than 5 years after the purchase. Conclusions. Legal purchase of a handgun appears to be associated with a long-lasting increased risk of violent death.

Suggested Citation

  • Cummings, P. & Koepsell, T.D. & Grossman, D.C. & Savarino, J. & Thompson, R.S., 1997. "The association between the purchase of a handgun and homicide or suicide," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(6), pages 974-978.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1997:87:6:974-978_6
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    Cited by:

    1. Gius, Mark, 2020. "Examining the impact of child access prevention laws on youth firearm suicides using the synthetic control method," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Daniel Cerqueira & Danilo Coelho & Marcelo Fernandes & Jony Pinto Junior, 2018. "Guns and Suicides," The American Statistician, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 289-294, July.
    3. Moore, Mark & Cook, Phil & Braga, Anthony, 2001. "Gun Control," Working Paper Series rwp01-033, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    4. Wolfgang Stroebe, 2014. "Firearm possession and violent death: A critical review," CREMA Working Paper Series 2014-07, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    5. Daniel Cerqueira & João Manoel Pinho de Mello, 2013. "Evaluating a National Anti-Firearm Law and Estimating the Causal Effect of Guns on Crime," Textos para discussão 607, Department of Economics PUC-Rio (Brazil).
    6. Miller, Matthew & Hemenway, David & Azrael, Deborah, 2007. "State-level homicide victimization rates in the US in relation to survey measures of household firearm ownership, 2001-2003," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 656-664, February.
    7. Susan B. Sorenson & Katherine A. Vittes, 2008. "Mental Health and Firearms in Community-Based Surveys," Evaluation Review, , vol. 32(3), pages 239-256, June.
    8. Barati, Mehdi, 2016. "New evidence on the impact of concealed carry weapon laws on crime," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 76-83.
    9. Daniel Cerqueira & Danilo Santa Cruz Coelho & John J. Donohue & Marcelo Fernandes & Jony Arrais Pinto Jr., 2019. "A Panel-based Proxy for Gun Prevalence in the US," NBER Working Papers 25530, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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