Military service members who do not securely store their firearms or those who carry weapons besides firearms while off duty may be at significantly heightened suicidal risk, according to a study issued today by JAMA Network Open.Why It’s Relevant
Suicide deaths represent a serious public health problem, particularly among active-duty U.S. military, who have a suicide rate higher than civilians. Firearms are the most common method, and ready access to a firearm may heighten risk when suicidal ideation develops.
By The Numbers
- Researchers analyzed questionnaire responses related to suicidal behaviors and weapon-related behaviors from 6,561 U.S. Army soldiers (27% active duty, 87% male) who owned firearms.
- Soldiers who didn’t unload and securely store their personal firearms were nearly four times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months than those who stored their firearm unloaded.
- Unsecured firearm storage was also associated with significantly increased risk of suicidal ideation across all time frames studied (30-day, 12-month, and lifetime) compared with secured firearm storage.
- The above results were adjusted for the soldier’s mental health history and exposure stressful life events, which were extracted from military medical records.
What’s More
Firearm owners who carried a personal weapon other than a firearm such as a knife or club while off duty were 10 times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months.
The Other Side
The study’s data reflects a snapshot of a single point in time, so the researchers were unable to determine causality between weapon storage and carrying behaviors and suicide ideation and attempt. The findings may also not apply to civilian populations.
Takeaway Message
“One potential clinical interpretation of these data is that unsecured firearm storage and weapon carrying represent unique identifiers of suicide risk,” the researchers wrote. In addition, “secure storage interventions such as lethal means counseling may be useful tools to decrease risk of suicide death among firearm-owning U.S. Army soldiers.”
Related Information
Source
Catherine L. Dempsey, Ph.D., et al. Firearm storage and carrying practices and suicidal behaviors in U.S. Army service members. JAMA Network Open. April 21, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.8268
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