evidence: Even if many distraught suicide attempters would seek alternative means of suicide, waiting periods may still reduce total rates of suicide because of the high case-fatality ratio of firearms when compared with other methods (Anestis, 2016; Miller, Hemenway, and Azrael, 2004; Vyrostek, Annest, and Ryan, 2004; Spicer and Miller, 2000). Additionally, waiting periods may reduce suicide rates by affording at-risk individuals time to seek help or receive intervention. [...] For those who already own guns, a waiting period may have little or no effect on suicide risk.