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John— As a child, I lost my dad, Edwin, a WWII US Army Master Sergeant, age 51, to suicide by gun in 1965. My mother, our priest and a family friend knew he was suicidal and each tried to dissuade him, but no one asked him for his handgun. His suicide sent shock waves that have reverberated through our family now for three generations. As a mother, I devoted my life to giving my three sons a good start by providing a loving home in a safe neighborhood. I chose schools so they'd get a solid education. I took them to church every week to steep them in Christian values. In 2012, my 25-year-old middle son, Peter, followed my dad's terrible example. Without warning, he shot himself with a handgun he had purchased ten months earlier for protection.
As a veteran myself, I know the hardships military service entails. From 2003 to 2022, more than 87,000 veterans died by gun suicide. That's an average of 13 veterans a day dying by suicide with a firearm. These deaths are not inevitable. Whether triggered by mental illness or an acute crisis, gun suicides are preventable. And Congress has an opportunity to act now. The bipartisan Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act would direct the VA to provide free gun lock boxes and information on secure storage to any veteran who requests them—a simple, effective step that can save lives. This legislation is an important step in our work to prevent gun suicides—but this bill will only move forward if Congress hears from people like you. Please, send a message urging your lawmakers to support the Saving Our Veterans' Lives Act.
This week, as we commemorate Veterans Day, we're reminded of the immense sacrifices made by those who served our country, by doing everything we can to protect them when they return home. That means passing common-sense measures like this one. John, send a message today urging your lawmakers to support the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act.
I know the pain of losing someone you love to a gun suicide—and I wouldn't wish that pain on any family. That's why I'm committed to preventing this crisis however I can, including fighting to protect our veterans' lives. Thank you for standing with our veterans and being a part of the gun safety movement. Dorothy Paugh  |
