Been on a roll about suicide and guns lately. Now we have more evidence that simple

[flamin lib]

actions can make a major difference. Suicide is an impulsive act, a permanent solution to a temporary situation. Previous posts are here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/126211481

http://www.democraticunderground.com/126211522

Now we have this:

How Military Reforms in Switzerland Accidentally Prevented Gun Suicides
Easy access to deadly weapons makes a big difference.

The Swiss own so many guns because military service is compulsory, and active members are required to store their firearms at home. When members of the military leave the armed services, they are given the option to purchase their guns at a discount. In March 2003, the Swiss army introduced new reforms — titled “Army XXI” — that reduced the number of troops from approximately 400,000 to 200,000 over the period of one year. Reisch speculated that if there were fewer men in the army — and therefore fewer men with access to guns at home — the law could have contributed to a reduction in the suicide rate.
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The link between gun ownership and suicides is well-documented. One sweeping study in the U.S. of 33 years of suicide and gun ownership data from all 50 states found a direct correlation between the two. The higher the gun ownership rate, the higher the suicide rate, the study found. One explanation for the phenomena: Guns are incredibly lethal when compared to other methods of suicide.
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Reisch’s research wasn’t the first to link changes in military policies to suicides. A 2010 study of the Israeli army, for instance, found that requiring soldiers to leave their weapons on base over the weekend, as opposed to bringing them home, decreased the suicide rate among troops by almost 40 percent.

For all the rhetoric about guns not being an issue--'they would just use something else'--it is patently evident that

1: Guns and suicides go together.
and
2: Without guns suicide rates go down.

There is no further argument. The tragedy of death by suicide that inflicts so many families in the US can be abated and can be abated very quickly.

[Divine Discontent]

1. Crystal clear nt

[deathrind]

2. True

"A 2010 study of the Israeli army, for instance, found that requiring soldiers to leave their weapons on base over the weekend, as opposed to bringing them home, decreased the suicide rate among troops by almost 40 percent."

Difficult to argue with that but I am sure some will find a way.

[billh58]

3. According to the NRA/ILA/GOA apologists

suicidal people would just kill themselves with lawn furniture.

You are correct, suicide is most often an impulsive act brought on by sudden emotional stress (loss of a loved one, bad financial or relationship news, etc.) and could not have been prevented by "improved mental health" measures. There are already suicide "hotlines" in most areas of the country, and they are only marginally effective.

The ready availability of a gun increase the chances of a successful suicide by several times, and is largely preventable.

[Skittles]

4. I detest that saying "permanent problem for a temporary situation"

many situations are NOT TEMPORARY