Citation

Mannix R, Lee LK, Fleegler EW. Ann. Intern Med. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (R.M., L.K.L., E.W.F.).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American College of Physicians)

DOI

10.7326/M20-1678

PMID

32320463

Abstract

Since February 2020, as U.S. public health efforts have focused on containing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), gun sales in the country have skyrocketed. In March, more than 2.5 million firearms were sold, including 1.5 million handguns (1). In the best of times, increased gun ownership is associated with a heightened risk for firearm-related suicide (2). These are not the best of times. The United States faces an unprecedented combination of a public health and economic disaster. The physical distancing necessary to curb transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has disrupted social networks. Many people live in isolation, and the mental health of the population will likely suffer. Combined, these forces create a climate with the potential to increase firearm-related suicides.

The firearm-related suicide crisis was mounting well before COVID-19. From 2006 to 2018, firearm-related suicide rates increased by more than 25% (3). In 2018 alone, there were 24 432 firearm-related suicides in the United States (3). Simultaneously, the number of firearm background checks increased from 10 036 933 in 2006 to 28 369 750 in 2019—an annual increase of 14% (4).
However, something new is happening. The heightened gun sales in March 2020 represent an 85% increase compared with March 2019 (1). These are the highest firearm sales ever recorded in the United States. Persons who purchase handguns have a 22-fold higher rate of firearm-related suicide within the first year than those who did not purchase a handgun ...

Language: en