"Gathering data on violent death is difficult, for several reasons. Reports are not always complete, data about homicides are usually not available until after prosecutions are finished, and a single death can be classified differently depending on who is doing the classifying. An “unintentional death” in a police report, for example, can appear as “homicide” on a medical examiner’s report and “undetermined” on a death certificate." -NY Times story link-

Makes it tough to have meaningful dialog on the issue when the reporting of data is so oblique.

Thanks for the nutrition.

 FSG -

I'm curious as to the basis for your "foods for thought".   As a former Paramedic I am quite familiar with suicides.  Other than perusing websites, what is the basis for your argument.  (besides the URL's you provided)

In the real world, people who are serious in ending their life WILL successfully kill themselves whether it's with a firearm (messy) a hose from the exhaust pipe into the passenger compartment (stinky) or by overdosing on a plethora of drugs.  It they honestly want to die, they usually will and no legislation or debate will alter that.  What is not often talked about is the reasons those who successfully kill themselves have for their action.  Many have terminal illness. Some have psychiatric issues, and some are just tired of living in a world of pain

However, those who do not want to die usually slash their wrists or take a handful of aspirin or try any number of less than lethal drugs and devices.  Their reasons are different:  A love spurned, scholastic problems, financial problems, and depression.

It's one thing to read an article in a (biased) medical or psych journal and it's quite another to mop up society's messes and be the first one to read the suicide note.

Curt..You are absolutely correct. Most unsuccessful suicides are more pleas for attention than an actual attempt for one to take their own life. I have seen this side of it personally many times. If a person really wants to OD they will take a whole bottle of Oxycontin, not just 10 or twelve. If they want to jump to their deaths, they will do it from a 50 story building, not a hiway overpass after having called the person they are mad at and threatening to jump after 50 cops and the fire department have arrived and the CHP has closed the road beneath.. You get my point.

Of course a gun is the most successful way..GEEZ..I wonder how much was spent on THAT research..HMMM..Stick a 45 in your mouth or jump off a 30 foot bridge...People regularly FALL 30 feet and survive, they rarely survive a half inch diameter slug ripping their skull apart!

I have been a gun owner since I was 12 and have had some horrifically low points in my life, but never once have I considered ending my life with one(or in ANY fashion). This sounds like just another anti-gun scare tactic. Again, Guns dont kill people, people kill people, and sometimes it just happens to be themselves.

First off, I'm actually not anti-gun.

Second, my opinions come from the many discussions I've had with my mother, a liscensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has dealt with many suicidal clients over the years, coupled with my own knowledge on the subject through various research.

I've known people who've seriously attempted suicide (for example, swallowing an entire bottle of pills) and somehow lived, and years later, they realize how foolish a stunt like that was, and are glad to still be alive.  Yes, the most sucessful ones do have a plan, but you cannot deny that a gun is by far one of the easiest ways to off oneself, and in most cases, if you put it to your head, you will die.  Considering that no one in their right mind would want to end their own life, no matter how determined they might be, it all boils down to the need for professional help and guidance.  What I'm advocating here is not a ban on guns, I'm advocating more understanding and education on how the firearm can be used for such a thing, so that we can better prevent such deaths, and instead get these people the help they need. 

 Get rid of guns and we lose our freedoms....PERIOD. It's that simple. 

did fsg just say dont argue with me my mom told me so....lol j/k but seriously what that old saying, gun bans just ban the innocent...

It's so funny how blind some of you are.

Tsk tsk FSG. You know everyone is blind to something. Humans are biased beings after all. No need to resort to the barbs just because those with biases different than yours have responded.

Twice as many women attempt suicide as men. Twice as many men succeed. Men tend to use a gun. Women tend to use pills. Anyone that is serious about suicide will succeed.