Firearms and suicide in the United States.

Regional United States suicide rates in the mid 1970s were associated with the household prevalence of all guns and of pistols. The term "regional" applies to the nine Census divisions of the four US census regions. A literature review suggests that the relation may be etiologic, and that more definitive studies and pilot programs are needed. Arming may be an etiologic factor common both to individual and to national self-destructive behaviors.