Biting the bullet: Fixing America’s quiet epidemic of gun suicide

Abstract

This article investigates the growing issue of firearm suicide in America. Each year, firearm suicides account for roughly two-thirds of all gun deaths in the United States. Despite this, the common gun control narrative focuses on mass shootings; acts that account for less than 1 per cent of all gun murders annually. Through a quantitative analysis of data drawn from various governmental and academic sources, it will be demonstrated that current legislative approaches do not present effective solutions to gun violence, nor do they address the much larger issue of firearm suicide. Through an investigation of suicide prevention literature and relevant international case studies, this paper will argue that alternative legislative approaches exist that can save lives, and curtail America's growing epidemic of firearm suicides.