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Do Gun‐Purchase Waiting Periods Save Lives?

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  • Grace E. Arnold
  • Mitchell Blaine Priestley

Abstract

We study the impact of gun‐purchase waiting periods on suicide rates using county‐level mortality data from 1991–2019. We find that waiting periods are associated with a reduction in both firearm and overall suicide rates of approximately 5% and 2%, respectively. Novelly, we find that counties that are within 50 miles from a state without a waiting period experience no statistically significant reduction in suicides. Our findings reveal that the decrease in suicides under a waiting period is driven by counties that are more than 50 miles from a non‐restricted neighboring state.

Suggested Citation

  • Grace E. Arnold & Mitchell Blaine Priestley, 2025. "Do Gun‐Purchase Waiting Periods Save Lives?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(8), pages 1461-1473, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:34:y:2025:i:8:p:1461-1473
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4970
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Balestra, Simone, 2018. "Gun prevalence and suicide," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 163-177.
    2. Vars, Fredrick E. & Meadows, Benjamin & Edwards, Griffin, 2022. "Slipping Through the Cracks? The Impact of Reporting Mental Health Records to the National Firearm Background Check System," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 52-74.
    3. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303650_7 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Rudolph, K.E. & Stuart, E.A. & Vernick, J.S. & Webster, D.W., 2015. "Association between Connecticut's permit-to-purchase handgun law and homicides," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(8), pages 49-54.
    5. Anestis, M.D. & Anestis, J.C. & Butterworth, S.E., 2017. "Handgun legislation and changes in statewide overall suicide rates," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(4), pages 579-581.
    6. John J. Donohue & Samuel V. Cai & Arjun Ravi, 2023. "Age and Suicide Impulsivity: Evidence from Handgun Purchase Delay Laws," NBER Working Papers 31917, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Sanna Huikari & Marko Korhonen, 2021. "Unemployment, global economic crises and suicides: evidence from 21 OECD countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(13), pages 1540-1550, March.
    8. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
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