Re: Guns cause suicide?

"Paul (Oz)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ...
> Where are the statistics for this assertion?

WISQARS

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/

For 2001:

Suicides by gun: 16869
without gun: 13753

non-fatal "Self Harm" with gun: 3295 *
without gun: 324940

16869/(16869 + 3295) = .84
13752/(13753 + 324940 - 3295) = .04

* Self-harm, confirmed or suspected: Injury or poisoning resulting from a
deliberate violent act inflicted on oneself with the intent to take one's
own life or with the intent to harm oneself. This category includes suicide,
suicide attempt, and other intentional self-harm.

> > It's common sense. The country-by-country comparison is irrelevant.
> >
> > Just ask  yourself, if you had a friend who had a clinically depressed
> > teenage son, and your friend asked you if he should buy a gun, what
would
> > you say to him?
> >
> > By the say, Kleck claims there is no relationship between suicide rates
> and
> > gun ownership, but he had to jump through some complicated statisical
> hoops
> > to reach that conclusion. Again, it goes against common sense.
>
> If someone really wants to kill themselves they will find a way.

Unfortunately, depressed people often don't really want to kill themselves,
but can't see an alternative. After an unsuccessful attempt they may be
helped, but after a successful attempt it's too late.

SG