In 2009 more people killed themselves with guns than died in homicides.
In other words, we'd have to hire someone to protect you from shooting yourself just to make sure you can own a gun and protect you and yours from other people who want to kill you.
Roughly 18,000 people killed themselves with guns in 2009.
Roughly 16,000 people were killed by all methods of death, including guns, in 2009.
More people killed themselves than were killed by other people!
The myth of the American Strongman with a gun must come to an end. Ladies and gents, this is not the wild west anymore. We are not rugged plainsmen living off the land. We don't even shoot our own food, and even if we did, those guns are different from handguns.
And I have a feeling that the 69% of those homicides caused by guns would not have been as likely if it was harder to get a gun.
To make this clear:
If you buy a gun, you're more likely to die than if you didn't.
More than twice as likely to die!
Risk of death from homicide + risk of death from suicide by firearm.
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Males, methods of suicide (by percentage):
Firearms, 56%
Suffocation, 24%
Poisoning, 13%
(37% of men don't use firearms for suicide)
Females, methods of suicide (by percentage):
Firearms, 30%
Suffocation, 21%
Poisoning, 40%
(61% of women don't use firearms for suicide)
These statistics don't take into account suicide methods like slashing one's wrists, etc.
This same mental health resource site states, "Research shows that risk factors for suicide include: depression and other mental disorders, or a substance-abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders). More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors.
Yet more proof that, if someone is determined enough, they'll kill themselves or others if a gun isn't available to them. Our healthcare system is neglecting the mentally ill, and people are dying as a result.
For example, Japan has the 7th highest suicide rate in the world--despite gun ownership being banned. Meanwhile, in the USA, we have the 38th highest suicide rate in the world, despite readily available guns. One person commits suicide in Japan every 15 minutes.
Suicidal people in Japan kill themselves by leaping off high buildings, throwing themselves in front of trains, and "detergent suicide" (mixing household chemicals to create deadly gas). So I guess Japan should ban tall buildings, trains, and cleaning chemicals. 
Guns are banned in South Korea, yet South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world. More than 40 people there take their own lives each day. This rate is 5 times what it was during their parents' day.
According to the article linked below, "There is little real understanding of mental illness in South Korea, despite the spiralling suicide rate." People there tend to blame, rather than treat, those who are suicidal and mentally ill. And parental pressure, driving children to succeed, is a huge factor in the higher suicide rate today.
Their suicide methods of choice are very similar to those in Japan. Again, no guns are involved.
I know facts won't influence the opinions of people who have an irrational hatred of guns, but I'm putting these statistics out there for people who are willing to listen to reason.
IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. PERIOD.
SOURCES:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/03/japanese-deterg/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15331921
