Over 420 Vermonters died from firearms between 2011 and 2016, and 89% of those (374 individuals) were suicides. (Source: Taylor Dobbs’ study for VPR)
Vermont’s suicide death rate is 35% higher than the national average, and guns are used 59% of the time. (Source: CDC report: 6/8/18, “Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates—U.S., 1999-2016 & Circumstances Contributing to Suicides—27 States, 2015)
States with mandatory waiting periods have on average 17% fewer murders and about 10% fewer suicides. (Source: Harvard University Research study by Deepak Malhotra and Michael Luck, done after Sandy Hook)
85% of suicide attempts with guns are fatal. Many of the other most widely used suicide attempts fail more than 95% of the time. (Source: Harvard School of Public Health study on gun suicides)
When South Dakota repealed its 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases in 2009, overall suicides the following year increased 7.6%. (Source: Same as item 4, above)
Minors living in homes with unsecured guns are at an especially high risk of suicide and accidental fire arm injury (Source: A. Angle Meyer et al, “The accessibility of firearms and the risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members: a systematic review and meta- analysis,” Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 160 (2) (2014): 100—10; and other studies reaching back to 1993)
Between 2004 and 2014, over 6,000 minors intentionally shot themselves. (Source: CDC Fatal Injury and Non-Fatal Injury Report covering the years 2004-2014)
The vast majority of minors who used guns were using guns owned by someone in their home. (Source: Renee Johnson, et al, “Who are the owners of firearms used in adolescent suicides?” Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior Vol. 40 (6) (Dec. 2010) 609-11)