Explaining Gun Deaths: Gun Control, Mental Illness, and Policymaking in the American States

Seeking to test two commonly proposed solutions to gun deaths in the United States, we examine the extent to which (1) tougher gun control laws, (2) greater access to mental health services, and (3) a combination of both approaches affect the rate of gun deaths in American states. We find that tougher gun control laws, as well as a combination of both approaches, are associated with a lower overall rate of gun deaths, and with a lower rate of nonsuicide gun deaths, while only tougher gun control laws are significantly associated with a reduction in the rate of gun‐related suicides. Our findings serve as an initial guide to policymakers seeking to reduce the rate of gun deaths in their states. 摘要 针对美国因枪支因素引发的死亡, 目前主要有两种解决方法：(1）实行更严格的枪支管制法律, (2）提供更多关注精神健康的服务。为检验这两种方法, 我们分别考察这两种方法, 以及(3) 两种方法结合起来, 会在多大程度上影响美国各州由枪支引发的死亡的比率。我们发现, 更严格的枪支管制法律, 以及两种方法的结合, 都可以导致较低的总体枪支致死率以及非自杀性枪支致死率。然而, 对于自杀性枪支致死率, 只有更严格的枪支管制法律与其相关。我们的研究结果, 可以为那些寻求降低本州枪支致死率的政策制定者提供初步指导。