On 13/10/17 17:04, John B. wrote:


As for methods of suicide, yes, firearms do account for very slightly
over 50% (less then 51%) and poisons and suffocation maker up the
majority of the other options. Will the next cry be to ban rope and
insecticides? Or more logically does that mean that banning guns will
eliminate 50% of the suicides?


In Australia it seems the method of suicide is nothing like 50% due to
firearms these days, though it may have got close a couple of times in
the past.

"In 2009, the most frequent method of suicide was by Hanging,
strangulation or suffocation (X70), a method used in just over half
(51.3%) of all suicide deaths. Poisoning by drugs was used in 14.9% of
suicide deaths, followed by poisoning by other methods including by
alcohol and motor vehicle exhaust (11.7%). Methods using firearms
accounted for 7.7% of suicide deaths. The remaining suicide deaths
included deaths from drowning, jumping from a high place, and other
methods."

As for the elimination theory...

http://www.ic-wish.org/WiSH%20Fact%20Sheet%20Trends%20in%20Australian%20S uicide.pdf

•
Although most firearm-related deaths are suicides,
firearm suicides represent a low
percentage of suicides overall.
•
Firearm suicide rates began falling in the 1980s.
•
A number of studies, from a range of different sour
ces, have shown that:
o
The 1996 firearms legislation did not have a signif
icant impact on the pre-existing
downward trend in firearm suicides.
o
Declines in firearm suicide have been accompanied by
an increase in the use of
other suicide methods (especially hanging).
o
Declines in non-firearm suicides began around the sa
me time as the gun laws
were changed. The declines coincided with the introd
uction of the National
Suicide Prevention Strategy.
•
A recent report backed by the Public Health Associat
ion of Australia concluded that the
1996 gun laws were “not a cost effective intervention
” for suicide prevention.

--
JS