Scott Alexander explores why US suicide rates aren't higher despite high gun ownership, concluding that the US likely has a low base rate elevated by gun availability. Longer summary

Scott Alexander investigates why the US doesn't have higher suicide rates despite high gun ownership. He examines data showing guns increase suicides within the US, but the US doesn't have higher rates internationally. Scott proposes that the US may have a very low base suicide rate due to factors like religiosity and ethnic diversity, which is then elevated by gun availability. He concludes that a gun-free US might have one of the lowest suicide rates in the developed world, around 5-6 per 100,000. The post warns against simplistic 'gotcha' arguments using international comparisons without deeper analysis. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links and brief commentary spanning topics from scientific research to cultural phenomena, including updates on various studies challenging previous beliefs. Longer summary

This is a links post containing short summaries and comments on various news, studies, and interesting articles. Topics covered include gun violence research, genetic studies, college admissions and tuition, nutrition science, criminal justice reform, and cultural effects. Scott discusses new research challenging previous beliefs about bilingualism and drug side effects, shares interesting discoveries about religious effects on society, and provides updates on various scientific and technological developments. The post also includes commentary on political developments, interesting place names, and various cultural phenomena. Shorter summary