A Law for Life: Gun Regulations and Young Adult Suicide
Predictive models show that states with both minimum age and permit-to-purchase laws would see a 33% decrease in firearm suicide deaths among young adults.
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Suicide is a leading cause of death among young adults in the United States. Firearms are involved in about half of these tragedies. As of 2020, only 17 states had laws setting the minimum age to purchase a handgun at 21, and just 12 states required background checks for all firearm purchases. Amid ongoing debate over gun laws, a new study sheds light on how state policies may reduce suicide deaths in the young adult population.
Emma Fridel and colleagues investigated the effects of two types of state gun laws on suicide rates among 18- to 20-year-olds. The two laws were: 1) setting the minimum age to purchase a handgun to 21, and 2) requiring a permit to purchase, which involves background checks. Using statistical models, they estimated the number of suicides that would occur under different combinations of these laws.
The study’s predictive models suggest that states with both minimum age laws and permit-to-purchase laws would have the lowest firearm suicide rates among young adults. The figure above shows the estimated annual number of suicides among 18- to 20 year-olds under different legislative scenarios. States with neither law had the highest predicted rates, with about 16 firearm suicides and 31 suicides in total per year. Minimum age laws alone were predicted to prevent about 2 firearm deaths annually, while permit laws were estimated to prevent 6. The models suggest that states with both laws would have the fewest young adult firearm suicides, under 9 per year.
Compared to states with no such laws, the researchers found that those with only minimum age laws would have 12% fewer young adult firearm suicides, while those with only permit-to-purchase laws would see a 39% reduction. States implementing both types of laws would experience a 33% decrease in firearm suicides compared to those with only minimum age requirements.
These predictive models demonstrate the potential of specific laws to limit access to lethal means for young adults in crisis. As suicide attempts are often impulsive, even a short delay in gun access could mean the difference between life and death.
