[E. Pluribus Unum]

In the absence of state-level data on household gun ownership, the study used a proxy variable -- the percentage of a state's suicides committed with a firearm -- that has been validated in previous research.

Metadata.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Most scientific papers are probably wrong

Why Most Published Research Findings Are False

[AlexW]

“Garbage in, garbage out.”
_________________________________________
Of course...Everyone who touches a gun is going to die.

Science also tells us that everyone who drinks water, or eats rice is also gonna die.

[ChildOfThe60s]

What, no hockey stick graph?

This stuff is so easily manipulated. It’s embarrassing that anyone believes this crap.

If it is a leftist cause, you will find grossly fiddled data, far fetched assumptions put forth as empirical observations and analysis that would shame a Stat 101 student.

Hell, it should be titled “An Agenda Driven Tragedy Dressed up as Science”.

[D Rider]

In the absence of state-level data on household gun ownership, the study used a proxy variable -- the percentage of a state's suicides committed with a firearm -- that has been validated in previous research.

In some states gun ownership is nearly universal. Those are the states with the largest absence of data. (Hint: check out western states with the lowest crime rates.)