The article “Mortality Among Recent Purchasers of Handguns” (New England Journal of Medicine [1999]: 1583–1589) examined the relationship between handgun purchases and cause of death. Suppose that a random sample of 4000 death records was examined and cause of death was noted for each individual in the sample. Gun registration records were also examined to determine which of these 4000 individuals had purchased a handgun within the previous year. Data consistent with summary values given in the article are shown in the accompanying table.

Is it reasonable to use the chi-square test to determine whether there is an association between handgun purchase within the year prior to death and whether the death was a suicide? Justify your answer.

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Handgun Purchased No Handgun Purchased Not Suicide Suicide 4 63 12 3921