Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed an amicus brief on Monday, July 17, 2023, supporting Anne Arundel County’s suicide prevention measures in the case of Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., et al v. Anne Arundel County, Maryland, currently before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The amicus curiae brief emphasizes the importance of targeted efforts to increase awareness of suicide risk factors and available resources at the point of sale of firearms and ammunition.
Firearms account for approximately 45% of suicide deaths in Maryland, making them the leading method of suicide both in the state and nationally. In Maryland, suicide disproportionately impacts children, ranking as the second leading cause of death among five to 14-year-olds and the third leading cause among 15 to 24-year-olds. In addition, the brief underscores the significant impact of firearm suicides on veterans, as firearms are used in 68% of suicides among this vulnerable group.