Stepping out in front of trains is the second most popular form of suicide where I live, mostly popular with teens who cannot get access to any bridges, and trains run almost everywhere.
Some people have proved by their repeated criminal acts that they should be locked up forever, until they die there. Obviously Scandinavia does not believe it. But other nations do. And that relegates the gun issue for these people as moot.
The lastes federal Supreme Court ruling on this draws the various lines about what the states may control and what they may not. Based on this most recent ruling, the states and the DC may not limit access to any handgun. They may regulate public possession however, according to this court, which has been the most pro-gun court the nation has ever seen, with 5 of its 9 justices agreeing this way, while 4 of them completely ignor the 2nd Amendment. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf
And yet can we afford to all be in an armed escalation? The firearm homicide rate in the USA is horrendous - the only countries that outstrip you are South Africa and war zones
And there should be nets maybe? Or a higher bloody rail with barbed wire!! Think on this statistic - 75% of para suicides (that are the ones that fail to die) never do it again repeaters are a small minority of parasuicides so, if we can save them then we have someone who will in all probability live a long life But importantly it is the impact on YOUTH suicide that is the most telling http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/research/hicrc/firearms-research/gun-ownership-and-use/index.html http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00046149.htm
Every different group has their preferred method of suicide. The best cure for depression is a cup of hot coffee and a friend to listen to your problems. Suicide has nothing at all to do with guns. Guns are merely the victims of them sometimes, and thus get blamed.
Yes we will not stop suicide but we CAN reduce the death rate - especially for young suicides http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=705d5df4-055b-f1ec-3f66462866fcb4e6 It is the incomplete suicides that should be targeted - the "para suicides" and unfortunately a gun is more likely to turn an "attempt" into a "success" than many other methods. Yes there will always be people who will jump in front of trains but these are a minority - the majority in the USA are by firearms
The Harvard research says something different - there is a correlation (and I admit correlation does not equal causation) between gun ownership and a higher rate of suicide - read the link
You are at least correct that correlation does not equal causation. People who are so emotionally shattered that they intend to commit suicide will pull it off no matter what you take away from them. Like I said, there are plenty of trains and bridges everywhere.
No they won't - trust me I am a health professional and have dealt with more parasuicides than you have had hot lunches A great number of suicides are impulsive and if there is a means at hand - especially one that is glamorised then that is what will be used
Using a gun is actually really messy. I cannot even imagine it. And I own several. Easiest way is tie a plastic bag over your head, and then slip your hands into a self tightening noose behind your back so that you cannot change your mind. Leave guns out of it.
Unfortunately that is not how a suicidal person thinks. Most commonly it is associated with drugs and or alcohol and pulling a gun trigger is easier. As I have said there is a "glamour" associated with guns - much the same as there is with your bridge
I've dealt with 3 who were on the cusp. In each case they just needed to talk it through. In each case they recovered. One of them was a shooter, and a lady. I took her bullets away from her, but not her gun. I let her keep that. She needed to understand that her x-hubbie was the cause of her torment, and that love is like Pat Benatar said a battlefield. And a bullet was not going to solve anything.
good for you - mostly because I work in ICU I see the fails and please believe me when I say that when it comes to guns the successful ones were the lucky ones. Less lucky were the ones who hesitated at the temple jerked forward and shot out their own eyes Or the kid who put the shotgun under his chin and blew out his lower jaw, upper jaw upper lip and nose Yes, I remember what it was like BEFORE the gun buyback
My sister was an ICU nurse for the first few years of her nursing career. Now she works in a clinic, her hours are more regular, and her job is more sane. Try to get out of ICU work as soon as you can so you will stay sane.
Basic error! The analysis into suicide ultimately tests whether guns have perfect substitutes (i.e. its just a switch in preferred suicide method). That hypothesis is soundly rejected, ensuring that- for suicide- guns require a separate analysis
Unfortunately your wrong. When guns are banned, there is a simultaneous increase in suicide by rope and bridge. In Germany it is sluiced by car. They are depressed, not dumb. Gun control does not cure depression.
The empirical evidence shows that the perfect substitute hypothesis can be rejected. Sorry chum, but you're on a loser again
Medical research has found that gun control does not cure depression. Further public policy analysis rejects your argument.
Empirical analysis shows that guns do not have perfect substitutes. The only debate is 'why' (e.g. the analysis linking it to young males and alcohol abuse). Again, you only show that you haven't perused the available literature
The empirical evidence (from your favorite guy) shows that handgun licensing increases suicide by other methods.