> This is driven almost entirely by a large increase in violent crime and suicides during the pandemic

Suicides decreased during the pandemic.

From the article:
> "The number of people injured by gunfire was nearly 40% higher in 2020 and 2021, compared with 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study published Thursday. In 2022, gun injuries tapered off, but were still 20% higher than before the pandemic."

By contrast, suicides were lower in 2020 than 2019, and only modestly higher in 2021 (to 2018 levels).

Check out the data table for yourself; the changes in firearm injury rate don't look at all similar to the changes in suicide rate.