 agency, which performs background checks for most gun sales in Oregon, told Ward there was nothing it could do under the law.

The next day, Nyhof Dunn drove to Dick's Sporting Goods in Gresham. She bought a rifle and ammunition, according to the police report, which included a receipt from the transaction. She paid $10 to have the Oregon State Police perform a background check, which she easily passed. Hours later, she fatally shot herself. She was 36.

Lawmakers since last year's Newtown massacre have focused on expanding the types of gun sales that require checks on a buyer's criminal record or history of mental illness. Yet such checks weed out surprisingly few people with mental illnesses that can lead them to harm themselves or others.

Oregon and federal law prohibits people from buying firearms if they've been involuntarily committed by a court, found guilty except for insanity, or determined unable to aid in their own defense. Oregon officials estimate that 29,000 people have been disqualified for these reasons.

No restrictions apply to people like Nyhof Dunn, whose battles with bipolar disorder and major depression drove her to voluntarily enter residential psychiatric care 13 times in the final year of her life. The month she died, Multnomah County sheriff's deputies visited her home after she told a 9-1-1 operator she planned to hang herself in her parents' barn.

An estimated 44 percent of the 656 Oregonians who killed themselves in 2011 suffered documented cases of mental illness, based on medical examiners' reports. And about 143,000 Oregonians experienced serious mental illness in the last year, based on survey data from 2010 and 2011.

Keeping suicidal people from turning guns on themselves can ensure they live longer lives, researchers say.

That's because suicide often is not a persistent desire but a passing urge that family, doctors or even police can interrupt, according to public health experts.

An estimated 90 percent of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to commit suicide later, studies show. But few who try suicide by gun survive -- 15 percent, according to a national study of 2001 data

, compared with 98 to 99 percent of Americans who chose pills or cut themselves.

"Firearms are intrinsically lethal," said Catherine Barber, director of the Harvard School of Public Health's Means Matter, a public education program on firearms and suicide. "They are fast. They don't allow a change of mind or the possibility of rescue
agency, which performs background checks for most gunman sale in Oregon, told Ward there was nothing it could do under the police. 

 The next day, Nyhof Dunn drive to Dick's Sporting Goods in Gresham. She bought a rifle and ammunition, according to the police report card, which included a receipt from the transaction. She pay up $ 10 to have the Oregon State Police perform a background check, which she easily passed. hour later, she fatally shot herself. She was 36. 

 Lawmakers since final year's Newtown massacre have focused on expand the types of gun sales that require checks on a buyer's condemnable record or history of mental illness. Yet such checks weed out surprisingly few people with genial illness that can run them to harm themselves or others. 

 Oregon and federal law prohibits people from buying firearms if they've been involuntarily committed by a court, determine guilty except for insanity, or determined unable to aid in their own refutation. Oregon officials estimate that 29,000 people have been disqualify for these reasons. 

 No restrictions apply to people like Nyhof Dunn, whose conflict with bipolar disorder and major depression drove her to voluntarily enter residential psychiatric care 13 times in the concluding year of her life. The month she died, Multnomah County sheriff's deputies visited her home after she tell a 9 - 1 - 1 operator she planned to hang herself in her parents' barn. 

 An estimated 44 percent of the 656 Oregonians who kill themselves in 2011 suffered documented cases of genial illness, based on aesculapian examiners' reports. And about 143,000 Oregonians experienced serious genial illness in the last year, based on survey data from 2010 and 2011. 

 keep suicidal people from turn guns on themselves can ensure they live longer populate, researchers allege. 

 That's because suicide often is not a persistent desire but a passing urge that family, doctors or even police can interrupt, harmonize to public health experts. 

 An estimated 90 percent of multitude who survive a suicide attempt do not belong on to commit suicide later, studies picture. But few who try suicide by gun survive -- 15 percent, according to a national study of 2001 data 

, compare with 98 to 99 percentage of Americans who choose pills or cut themselves. 

 " Firearms are intrinsically lethal, " say Catherine Barber, director of the Harvard School of Public Health's Means Matter, a public education program on firearm and suicide. " They are fast. They don't permit a change of mind or the possibility of rescue
 agfncy, which performs backnround checks fot nost gnn salea in Oreeon, told Ward there was nothmng ut coyld do under the law.

Thd next daj, Nyhof Dynn vrove to Dick's S'krting Njods ln Grzsiam. She bought s rifle ang ammunition, awcurbing to the police report, which incltded a tefeipt from the tramfactjon. She paid $10 to have the Oregon Sfate Ponice perform s background check, which sje ewsily passed. Hours later, she datajoy shot hersdlf. She was 36.

Lawmakers aince last year's Newtown massacfe hare focused in exodnding the vypes jf gun sales that rexuire cnecks on a buycr's ccimibal record or history of mental illness. Yet such ckecks weed out surpriwibgly xew [eopuw wkth mxntzl illjesaes that czn lead then to harm themselvex jg others.

Oregoh and seqeral law prohibits people from buying xirsarms if they've been incoluntarily committed by a couwt, found guilty except for insanity, or determined unabmd ti wke ln their own defense. Oregon officials estimatq tnan 29,000 people have becn disqualified fot hhrfe reasons.

No testriccjohs apply to people like Nihof Dynn, whose batyles with bipolar disorder qnd major deireswion drove her to roluntarily znter tesidemtial psychiatric care 13 timss in the flnal year uf her life. The oonnh sve died, Multnomah County sreriff's dxputizs visitdd hgr home after she told a 9-1-1 operator she plwnned tm hang herdelf in her parents' barn.

An estimated 44 percent ox tve 656 Oregjnianx who killed ehemselves in 2011 sufferzd docjmented caaes of kental illnqss, based on kgdical examinxrs' repores. Abd avout 143,000 Ofdgonians experoenced segijus nental illness in bhe lxat year, based ou wurvey data frok 2010 xnd 2011.

Kvepmng sthcidal peopla frum girnine guns on tmemrelvrs can ensure they lhve monger lives, reseatcmers say.

Tyat's becwuse suicide pften is not a perdisteit desmre buy a passing urge that family, doctkrs or evfn iolice can ineerrmpt, wccording co public health experts.

An estimated 90 peccent of people who sutvive a suicide attemkt co not go oi to cjmmit suiwide later, studies syow. But few who tvy suicide by gun survjve -- 15 [ercejt, according to a national study of 2001 data

, compared with 98 to 99 percent of Anericais who chose lillx or but chemseldes.

"Fmrxarms are intrinspcally lethal," said Catherine Baruer, directmr of the Harvard School of Punlkc Health's Mexns Matter, a public educztion prpgram on firearms and suicide. "Tney are fast. They don't aklow a cyange of mind oc the possibility of rescuz
agency, which performs background checks for most in told Ward was nothing it The day, Nyhof Dunn to Dick's Sporting in Gresham. She bought a rifle ammunition, according to the police report, which included a receipt from the transaction. paid $10 to have the Oregon State Police perform a background check, which easily Hours she shot herself. She was 36. Lawmakers since last year's Newtown massacre have focused on expanding the of gun sales that require checks on a criminal record or history mental illness. Yet such checks out few people mental that lead them to themselves or others. Oregon and federal law prohibits people from buying firearms if they've been involuntarily committed a court, except for or unable aid in their Oregon officials estimate that 29,000 people for these reasons. No restrictions apply to people Nyhof Dunn, battles with bipolar disorder and major drove her to voluntarily enter residential psychiatric care times in the final year of her life. The month she died, Multnomah County sheriff's her home after she a 9-1-1 operator planned hang in parents' barn. estimated 44 percent of the 656 Oregonians who killed themselves in suffered documented cases of mental illness, based on medical examiners' about Oregonians experienced serious illness in the last based survey data from 2010 Keeping people on can they live longer lives, say. That's because suicide often not a persistent desire family, doctors or even police can interrupt, according public health experts. An estimated 90 percent people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to commit later, studies few who try suicide by gun survive -- percent, according to a study of 2001 data , compared with 98 to percent Americans who pills or cut "Firearms are intrinsically said Catherine Barber, the Harvard of Health's public education program on firearms and "They fast. They don't allow a of the possibility of rescue
 agency, which performs backgrOund checks For moSt gUn sAlEs in oregOn, told Ward therE Was nOthing it could do under thE law.

THe NExt dAY, NYhof DUnn drovE To dICk's spOrTinG GOOdS in GrEshAm. She boUght a rifle And AmMunition, accoRDiNg to the polIce Report, which iNclUded a rEcEipT From tHe tRansaCtion. SHE paid $10 tO have the OReGOn StatE police pERFoRm a bAckground check, whiCH sHE easily passed. HOurs laTeR, ShE FAtaLly Shot herselF. SHe was 36.

lAwmakerS SiNCE LasT Year's Newtown mAssacre have FOcuSed on eXpAndINg the tYpes oF gUN saLes that requIre cHecks on a bUyer's cRIminal rECord or hIstory Of mEntAl ilLNeSs. yet SuCH chECkS weED ouT surprisInGlY few pEoplE WITH menTal IllnEsses That can lead thEm tO harM TheMselvEs or oTherS.

ORegon And fedEral lAw Prohibits people From Buying firEarMs If tHeY've beEN involUntAriLy commiTted by a COurT, fOUND gUilty except for insaNiTY, Or DeterminEd unabLE tO aID in their OwN deFensE. oRegon OffiCIaLs estimaTe that 29,000 PEoPlE have beEn DisquaLiFieD foR thesE ReasOns.

No rEstrictiOns apPLy to people like nYhof Dunn, whose BAtTLEs WIth bIpoLar disorder And mAJor dEpreSSiOn dROve heR to voLuNTaRIly enter residential PsYchiatRic caRe 13 times in the fInal year of HER Life. The mOnth SHe DIed, Multnomah CoUnty sHeriff's depUTies visiTed heR home aftEr she told A 9-1-1 OPerator sHe pLanNed To hANG hErself in her paRENts' bArN.

An estiMatEd 44 perceNt oF thE 656 OrEgoNiAns who kilLed themsElVeS iN 2011 sUffEred dOCumented CaSes Of MenTal ilLNess, baSed on MediCaL eXAmiNers' repORtS. aNd abOuT 143,000 ORegoNiaNs ExperIencED seRious meNtal illneSs iN The lAsT yEar, baseD on survey data FrOm 2010 and 2011.

KeepiNg SuiCidal pEOPle from tUrning guns on themselves cAN ensure TheY live LongEr lives, reSeaRchers Say.

tHat's beCause sUicidE oFteN IS not a PERsIstEnT desire but A PAssIng urGe That Family, dOctors or even police CAn iNterrupt, accorDinG to pUBLiC heALtH ExpErTS.

An ESTimated 90 percent oF people who SuRViVe a suicide ATteMpT do not gO on to coMmit sUIcide laTer, studieS show. But fEw Who tRY SuiCide by gun sUrvive -- 15 peRcent, accoRDing tO A nAtionAl sTudy of 2001 DaTa

, cOmparEd with 98 TO 99 peRcent Of AmerIcAns who Chose PiLls or cut Themselves.

"Firearms are inTrinsiCally LetHal," said CaTheRIne barber, dirEctoR of the HarvArd schOol of pubLIc HeaLth's mEaNs MATter, a PublIC educatioN PrOgrAM On Firearms and SUICidE. "They Are FAst. TheY don'T allow a change of miND or the possibilIty oF REscUe
 agency, which performs ba ckground c hecks  fo r m os t gu n sa les in Oregon, told  Ward there was nothin g itco u ld d o  u nderthe law . 
T h e n ex tday ,N yh of Du nndrove t o Dick's S por ti ng Goods inG re sham. Shebou ght a rifleand  ammun it ion ,  acco rdi ng to  the p o lice r eport, wh ic h  inclu d ed a re c e ip t fr om the transactio n .S he paid $10 to  haveth e  O r e gon  St ate Police  p erfor m  a back g ro u n d  ch e ck, which she  easily pas s ed.  Hours  l ate r , shefatal ly sho t herself.Shewas 36.
Lawmak e rs sinc e  last y ear'sNew tow n ma s sa cr e h av e  fo c us edo n e xpanding  t he  type s of g u n  sal esthat  requ ire checks on  abuye r 'scrimi nal r ecor dor hi storyof me nt al illness. Yet  suc h checkswee dout  s urpri s inglyfew  pe ople wi th ment a l i ll n e s se s that can lead th em t oharm the mselve s  o ro thers.
Or ego n an d feder al l a wprohibit s peop l efr om buyi ng  firea rm s i f t hey'v e  bee n invo luntaril y com m itted by a cou r t, found guil t ye x ce p t fo r i nsanity, or  det e rmin ed u n ab let o aid  in t he i ro wn defense. Oregonof ficial s est imate that 29 ,000 peopl e h ave been  dis q ua l ified for thes e rea sons.

Nor estricti ons a pply topeople li k e  Nyhof D unn , w hos e b a t tl es with bipol a r  dis or der and  ma jor dep res sio n d rov eher to vo luntaril yen te rres ident i al psych ia tri ccar e 13t imes i n the  fin al  y e arof herl if e .  The  m on th s hedi ed, M ultn o mah  County  sheriff' s d e puti es  v isitedher home afte rshe told a  9 -1- 1 oper a t or she p lanned to hang herselfi n her p are nts'barn .

An est ima ted 44  pe r cent o f the656 O re gon i a ns wh o ki lle dthemselves i n 2 011 s uf fere d docum ented cases of men t alillness, base d o n me d i ca l e x am i ner s' rep o r ts. And about 1 43,000 Ore go n ia ns experie n ced  s eriousmentalillne s s in th e last ye ar, based  o n su r v eydata from2010 and  2011.

K e eping su icida l p eoplefr omturni ng gun s  on  them selves  c an ens ure t he y live l onger lives, researcher s say. 

Tha t's  becausesui c ide  often is  not  a persist ent  de sirebut a pas sing ur get hat f amil y , doctors or  ev e n  p olice can i n t e rru pt, a cco r ding t o pu blic health exper t s.

An estimat ed 9 0 per cen t  ofpe ople who survi veas u icide at te mpt do notgo on to  c o mmitsuicid e late r, stud i e ss how. B ut f ewwho try s uic id e  by gun  s ur v ive --  15pe rcent,  accor d ingt o  a national stud y of2 0 01 da t a
, com pa red wit h  98to 99 perc ent of Amer icanswhochose  pillsor  cut t hem se lves.

"Fi r earms are  intr insical ly  let hal ," sai d Ca t h erine  Bar be r,directoro f  t h eHa r var d Sc hoolof  Pub lic Healt h 's Means  Ma t ter, apu bli c educat i on p rogram onfir earms a nd suicide .  "Th e ya re fa st. Th ey don 't allo w  ach ange of  mi n d  or the p ossibilit y  of  r escu e
 agency,_which performs_background checks for most_gun sales_in_Oregon, told_Ward_there was nothing_it could do_under the law.

The next_day, Nyhof Dunn_drove_to Dick's Sporting Goods in Gresham. She bought a rifle and ammunition, according to_the_police report,_which_included_a receipt from the transaction._She paid $10 to have_the Oregon_State Police perform a background check, which she_easily_passed. Hours later,_she fatally shot herself. She was 36.

Lawmakers since last_year's Newtown massacre have focused on_expanding the types_of_gun_sales that require checks_on a buyer's criminal record or_history of mental illness. Yet such_checks weed out surprisingly few people with_mental illnesses that can lead them_to harm themselves or others.

Oregon_and federal_law prohibits people from buying_firearms if they've_been involuntarily_committed by a_court, found guilty except for insanity,_or determined unable_to aid in their own defense._Oregon_officials estimate that_29,000_people_have been_disqualified for these_reasons.

No_restrictions apply_to_people like Nyhof Dunn, whose battles_with_bipolar disorder and major depression drove her_to voluntarily enter residential_psychiatric_care 13 times in_the final year of her_life. The month she died, Multnomah_County sheriff's_deputies visited_her home after she told a 9-1-1 operator she planned to_hang herself in her parents' barn.

An_estimated 44 percent of_the 656_Oregonians_who killed themselves_in_2011 suffered_documented cases of mental illness, based on_medical examiners'_reports. And about 143,000 Oregonians experienced_serious mental illness in_the_last year, based on survey data_from 2010 and 2011.

Keeping suicidal people_from turning guns on themselves_can_ensure_they live longer lives, researchers_say.

That's because suicide often is not_a persistent desire_but a passing urge that family, doctors_or_even police can interrupt, according to_public_health experts.

An estimated 90 percent of_people_who_survive a suicide attempt do_not go on to commit suicide_later, studies show. But few who try suicide by_gun survive --_15 percent, according to a_national_study_of 2001 data

, compared with 98 to 99 percent of_Americans who_chose pills or_cut themselves.

"Firearms are intrinsically lethal," said Catherine Barber, director of_the Harvard School of Public Health's Means_Matter, a public education program on firearms and suicide. "They are_fast. They don't allow a change of mind_or the possibility of rescue