A gun buyback program would facilitate the safe disposal of unwanted guns. Statistics show that the most likely person killed by a gun is its owner. Yes, that’s correct. 60% of all gun deaths are suicides. The next most likely person to be killed by a gun is a family member. Reducing the number of households with guns will reduce the likelihood of these deaths. A Harvard study from 2007 indicates a large increase in the risk of suicide when a gun is present in the home. According to that report, “…where there are more guns, there are more suicides. The higher suicide rates result from higher firearm suicides; the non-firearm suicide rate is about equal…”
A nationwide gun buyback program can dramatically reduce gun suicides.