Guns, violent crime, and suicide in 21 countries

Research on the role of firearms in violence andfatal events has focused he avily on American data and research. This, implies certain limitations, sin ce the United States is one of the Western countries with exceptionally hig h homicide and gun ownership rates. Thus, the American context offers only limited variance in the most prominent independent as well as dependent var iables. International comparisons offer challenging new perspectives. This research is based on data on gun availability in private households, collected thro ugh the international victimization surveys of 1989, 1992, and 1996, and Wo rld Health Organization data on homicide and suicide from 21 countries. It updates and extends former research conducted on this issue, based on the s urveys of 1989 and 1992. In addition, data from the International Crime Vic timization Surveys were used on total and gun-related robbery and assault ( including threats). The results show very strong correlations between the presence of guns in t he home and suicide committed with a gun, rates of gun-related homicide inv olving female victims, and gun-related assault. The picture is different fo r male homicide, total rates of assault, and generally, for robbery (commit ted with or without a gun). With the exception of robbery, most correlation s are similar or stronger when all types of guns are considered, rather tha n handguns alone. Interestingly, no significant correlations with total sui cide or homicide rates were found, leaving open the question of possible su bstitution effects. It is concluded that guns in the home are an important risk factor in suicide with guns, as well as a threat to women (especially female partners), whereas their role in homicide of male victims and street crime (such as robbery) may be much less prominent. Finally, the usual foc us on handguns may lead to underestimate the role of other types of guns.