> because it implies that by taking guns, people won't commit suicide, when they may just do it by any other method. We know that method substitution does happ

> because it implies that by taking guns, people won't commit suicide, when they may just do it by any other method. We know that method substitution does happen, but people would be using a less lethal method instead of a very lethal method so that alone will save lives. Also, not everyone will use a different method. We don't really know what the rates are for people switching methods. Reducing access to means and methods is about the most important short term suicide prevention measure we can take, alongside all the other stuff we need to help people avoid falling into suicidal thinking.