The impact of firearm control legislation on suicide in Queensland: preliminary findings

Christopher Henry Cantor · Penelope J. Slater

78 citations0/0 files storedThe Medical Journal of Australia

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Gun Ownership and Violence Research Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of specific firearm control legislation on firearm and overall suicide rates. DESIGN: Retrospective survey of data from the Register of the Suicide Research and Prevention Program, Queensland Department of Health. The hypothesis was tested that the legislation would reduce firearm and overall suicides more in metropolitan and provincial city areas than in rural areas, where firearm ownership is higher. SETTING: State of Queensland 1990-1993. OUTCOME MEASURES: Suicide rates by age, sex and method for metropolitan, provincial city and rural areas in the two years before (1990-1991) and after (1992-1993) legislation. RESULTS: Mean annual firearm suicide rates declined significantly (P < 0.05) in metropolitan and provincial city areas after legislation (from 3.6 to 2.3 per 100,000 and from 5.2 to 3.1 per 100,000, respectively), with significant declines among men and in the 15-29 years age group. Rates increased slightly in rural areas (from 7.2 to 8.2 per 100,000). Overall suicide rates declined in provincial areas only, with minimal change in metropolitan areas and a slight rise in rural areas. CONCLUSION: These results provide preliminary evidence that firearm control legislation, including a 28-day "cooling-off" period before firearm purchase, reduces suicide rates, especially among younger adult men.

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References

1992Suicide in the Home in Relation to Gun Ownership 1993Firearms and Adolescent Suicide 1990Firearm Regulations and Rates of Suicide 1990Guns and suicide: possible effects of some specific legislation 1994Gun control and suicide in Ontario

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2002Suicide in Australian Farming, 1988–1997 2000The Epidemiology of Suicide and Attempted Suicide among Young Australians 1998Access to Methods of Suicide: What Impact?2000Preventive Interventions for Youth Suicide: A Risk Factor-Based Approach 2013Suicide Among Young People in the Americas 1998Suicide among young Australians, 1964–1993: an interstate comparison of metropolitan and rural trends 2003Association between handgun purchase and mortality from firearm injury 2003State firearm laws and rates of suicide in men and women

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