International Gun Study: More Gun Laws generally means fewer gun deaths

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/29/11120184/gun-control-study-international-evidence

Santaella-Tenorio and his colleagues included the United States in their overall review, of course. They found something interesting here too: Generally speaking, there's strong consensus that restricting access to guns tends to reduce gun deaths.

One study, for example, looked at Missouri's 2007 repeal of its law requiring a permit to purchase a firearm (essentially, it had reduced background check requirements). This study found that after 2007, Missouri's homicide rate jumped by 25 percent. No other changes in law or circumstance appear to be able to explain the increase.

By contrast, laws favored by the National Rifle Association (such as concealed carry or stand your ground), when implemented, either had no effect on gun deaths or increased gun violence.

there is very good evidence — some of it from the same countries — thatreducing access to guns reduces overall suicides. Indeed, Santaella-Tenorio himself believes that despite the Canadian/Australian/Kiwi studies, limiting access to guns is very likely to reduce suicide rates overall.

"There's some other evidence that we didn't include in this review," he says, that finds attempting suicide is an impulsive decision that people regret (if they fail) and thus don't repeat. Firearms, because they're much more effective than taking pills or slashing your wrists, don't give people that option. Thus, reducing access to guns should (and empirically generally does) reduce the overall suicide rate.