Access to firearms isn't the real issue

Poor Burt Constable (column, July 15), stuck in the quagmire of bad data and wishful thinking again.

The definitive study on the relationship between firearm restrictions and suicide rates was done years ago and has never been refuted.

It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 8, 1990.

Researchers compared suicide data between the Vancouver, British Columbia metro area and King County, Wash. (Seattle area).

The comparison areas are very similar in almost all aspects. Population demographics, size, culture, primary industries, etc.

The primary difference was the highly restrictive laws in Vancouver versus the relatively mild restrictions in King County.

As anyone versed in this topic has already guessed, there was almost no difference in the suicide rates between the two areas.

Obviously, the number of firearm suicides was much higher in King County, but the number of total suicides was almost identical.

In the absence of firearms, people simply used alternative methods to commit suicide.

Please, put it to bed, Burt. Suicide is driven by culture and societal factors and has very little to do with the availability of firearms.

People determined to kill themselves are rarely ever thwarted because a firearm is not handy.

They just find another way. This is a basic fact, all over the world.

As a journalist, you know better than the lay public that figures do lie, because there will always be liars who figure.

Andrew H. Litkowiak

Green Bay, Wis.