Facilitating Temporary, Safe Firearms Restrictions Among Individuals at High Risk of Suicide: Response to Sung

To the Editor: Over the last decade, deaths by suicide in the United States have increased by roughly 2% per year (1), and firearms have accounted for roughly half of all suicide deaths (2). Despite average suicide rates by international standards, the firearms suicide rate is eight times greater in the United States than in other high-income countries (3). In this context, it is critically important to develop public policies that restrict individuals at high risk of suicide from access to firearms.

We applaud the successful efforts of Dr. Sung and the Washington State Psychiatric Association in working with a wide range of stakeholders to amend Washington State law concerning firearm transfers during suicidal crises. Universal background checks, particularly when paired with mandatory waiting periods, are associated with significant reductions in statewide suicide rates (4). Nevertheless, because several states also require background checks of friends or family members before receiving voluntary firearm transfers from suicidal individuals (5), this aspect of universal background checks can impede potentially lifesaving firearm transfers. In addition to legislation requiring universal background checks, complementary legislation such as the Washington State statute described by Dr. Sung, which exempts suicide risk–related transfers from background checks, can facilitate temporary, safe storage of firearms.

Although legislation governing firearm safety is largely a matter of state law, there is also a role for national leadership. We urge the American Psychiatric Association to work with interested national stakeholders to draft model state legislation concerning firearm safety during suicidal crises. If widely adopted, such legislation could help combat the national crisis in firearm-related suicides. A model state law would enable psychiatrists, other physicians, and other licensed mental health professionals to authorize temporary firearm transfers from suicidal individuals to other responsible adults.