Do firearms restrictions prevent suicide and violence in people with mental illness? new research evidence from New York

Research evidence has been lacking to evaluate the public safety effects of firearms restrictions on people with serious mental illness. A recent study in Connecticut found evidence suggesting that the state's policy of reporting gun-disqualifying mental health records to the federal gun background check database significantly reduced risk of a first violent crime in people with serious mental illness. However, that study was limited by its lack of a direct measure of firearms involvement in crime, and could not examine firearm-related suicide as an outcome. The current study from New York addresses both limitations of previous research. New York began reporting mental health records to the National Instant Check System (NICS) in 2009, depositing a large number of records at a single time and thus providing an opportunity for a powerful natural experiment. A sample of over 75,000 persons with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression was selected from state mental health services recipient records over the decade from 2003-2012. Matching administrative records from the state mental health, criminal justice, and vital records agencies were obtained to identify gun-disqualifying mental health adjudications, arrests (with all statutory arresting charges, including specific firearms violations), hospitalizations, incarcerations, and deaths (by cause of death.) Effects of gun laws will be estimated by comparing trends in firearms violence and suicide for persons disqualified vs. not disqualified from gun purchase due to mental health history, for the periods before and after the state's implementation of reporting to the NICS. Policy implications of findings will be explored.