The suicide component of the gun debate

[BainsBane]

38. Suicide is a reason FOR gun control

Last edited Sat Mar 23, 2013, 05:25 PM - Edit history (2)

Here I'll speak openly as a long-time sufferer of major depression, which I hope you recognize is not easy to do given the stigma associated with mental illness. I am fairly certain that if I had owned a gun I would not be alive now. Depression is accompanied by excruciating bouts of mental anguish, temporary in nature. I've described it as a psychic pain that feels like an ax splitting your brain apart. People with mental illness who kill themselves seek relief from that pain. It is far from a rational decision.
While all people who commit suicide do not have mental illness, many if not most do. It is part of the mortality of such brain diseases. Guns make suicide easy, too easy. The CDC shows that 90% of suicide attempts by gun succeed. Compare that with 5% by pills, another common means of suicide attempt. Just over half of all gun deaths are suicides.
People who feel they must commit suicide can find other methods. Those other methods are not as easy, but that means they have to put more thought and planning into the act.

Of course, this discussion is hypothetical because handgun bans are not realistically on the table. Comprehensive background checks, however, would prevent those adjudicated dangerous to themselves or others from acquiring guns, which is a good thing. It would in no away effect those with chronic diseases affecting other parts of the body besides the brain, or even most people with mental illness.