The statistics seem to indicate that banning guns doesn't change the suicide rate at all (more people hang themselves instead).
In Australia specifically the suicide rate has dropped since the 1997 gun bans but at exactly the same rate as it was dropping before. Further, the homicide rate has remained exactly the same. The methods have changed but the number of deaths hasn't.
As per reported vehicle deaths (vs. injuries) in this country, I wish we had statistics on attempted suicides and attempted murders to compare against. But perhaps I'm just searching for statistics to prove my case.
Via: [BoingBoing | guncontrolnow | The Week]