Crisis & Suicide Prevention · Texas behavioral health news
Raising Firearm Purchase Age Supports Suicide Prevention - Baker Institute
988 Lifeline / Crisis (Google News) · May 16, 2025
In plain language
Recent data from the Baker Institute shows that raising the minimum age to buy any firearm from 18 to 21 could significantly reduce suicide rates. In Texas, young adults between 18 and 24 have higher rates of firearm-related suicide compared to the national average. The study found that states requiring buyers to be at least 21 to purchase handguns have lower suicide rates among young people. Experts suggest that limiting access to firearms for those under 21 is a crucial tool for saving lives and preventing tragedies.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Firearm-related suicide is currently the leading cause of suicide deaths in the United States.
- Texas leads the nation in total firearm background checks for both handguns and long guns.
- Texans aged 18 to 29 have the highest number of firearm-related suicides in the state.
- States with a minimum purchase age of 21 for handguns see lower suicide rates among young adults.
- In 2022, one in seven U.S. firearm suicides among 18 to 20-year-olds occurred in Texas.
- Raising the firearm purchase age to 21 can help prevent suicides, homicides, and mass shootings.
Raising Firearm Purchase Age Supports Suicide Prevention Baker Institute
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