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John— People are often surprised to learn that more than half of U.S. gun deaths are suicides. For military veterans, the rates are even worse: Veterans are three times more likely to die by gun suicide. My fiancé, Mike, died by gun suicide. He was a Marine Corps veteran and had a bright future ahead of him. His death left us with unanswered questions. But one thing is clear: his immediate access to a gun in a time of crisis enabled this irreversible tragedy. This September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and it's important that I share a moment of Mike's story with you and ask you to take one small action to help prevent veteran suicide. Like Mike, I served in the military. I was an Army engineer, the fourth-generation in my family to serve, and I deployed to war zones. I've spent much of my post-military career working to improve access to mental healthcare for veterans. I know that passing the Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act would make a difference in preventing veteran suicide. Right now, this bill is in Congress' hands, and we must urge them to take action.
The bipartisan Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act would require the VA to offer gun lock boxes and secure storage information to veterans who request them. Providing free gun lock boxes is a simple and meaningful way to help prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths. Tell Congress: Pass the Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act. From 2003 to 2022, more than 87,000 veterans died by gun suicide. Every single day, 13 veterans die by gun suicide. Congress has a duty to take action and help end this devastating crisis, and passing this bill is one way to do it. This is about encouraging and enabling responsible gun ownership. This is about prioritizing safety by working with veterans and their families to secure guns in their homes. A securely stored gun allows for time and space in between a crisis and an irreversible decision, allowing veterans and their families time to seek help. I would give anything to reverse time so that we could securely store Mike's gun. This bipartisan Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act has a real chance of passing and it can help save lives; but it depends on how loud we get. If every person who opens this email sends a message, we can make our voices heard. Thanks for honoring the life of my fiancé Mike and the lives of every other veteran who has died by gun suicide.
Amber Schleuning
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