Suicide rates could be cut with stronger gun laws

A new report suggests suicide rates in Switzerland could be cut if there were stricter rules on the access to army weapons.

Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands studied suicide rates across Europe - it showed a third of male suicides in this country are with guns. 

In other countries the rate of suicides by gun is under 10%.

Reinforcing the conclusion – when the number of army conscripts was slashed in 2004 as part of a cost cutting measure, male suicides also fell sharply. 

Although soldiers do keep their army weapon at home, they’re not supposed to take any ammunition. 

But figures from the army show there are tens of thousands of cannisters of ammunition missing and suitable rounds can be bought at gun shops. 

 

 

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