Firearm suicide prevention: what every family needs to know

Most families that own firearms have never had a conversation about suicide. Not because they do not care, but because it does not feel relevant. The guns are for hunting, for protection, for sport. Suicide is something that happens to other families.

Until it does not.

TL;DR: Firearm suicide accounts for roughly 60% of gun deaths in America. Most suicidal crises last less than 10 minutes, and firearms are fatal 85-90% of the time. Safe storage, temporary removal during crisis periods, and honest family conversations are the most effective prevention tools available.

I know this because my mother Joyce died by suicide with a firearm when I was 20 months old. I grew up without her. And for most of my life, I did not talk about it because our culture does not make that conversation easy.

This article is about the things I wish my family had known. Not because knowledge would have guaranteed a different outcome, but because information creates options. And in a suicidal crisis, options are the difference between life and death.

The number that changes the conversation

When people think about gun violence, they picture mass shootings. News coverage reinforces this. But the data tells a different story.

Of the roughly 45,000 gun deaths in America each year, approximately 26,000 are suicides. That is around 60%. More than homicides, mass shootings, and accidents combined.

This is not a distant statistic for gun-owning families. If you own a firearm and someone in your household is going through depression, job loss, a breakup, financial stress, or any acute crisis, the presence of that firearm in the home changes the risk calculation fundamentally.

Here is why: roughly 85-90% of suicide attempts with a firearm are fatal. Compare that to overdose (less than 3% fatal) or cutting (less than 2% fatal). The lethality gap is enormous. And because most suicidal crises are temporary, often lasting less than 10 minutes between the decision to act and the attempt, survival depends on what is accessible in that narrow window.

Safe storage is suicide prevention

This is not a political argument. It is a practical one.

Locking your firearms in a safe, using cable locks, and storing ammunition separately from the firearm all create time between a person in crisis and a lethal method. That time, even a few minutes, is often enough for the impulse to pass.

Practical steps every gun-owning family can take:

• Lock all firearms in a gun safe, lockbox, or with cable locks. This is basic responsible ownership.
• Store ammunition separately from the firearm. Two points of access is better than one.
• Know who has access. If multiple people in your household know the safe combination, consider whether any of them are going through a difficult period.
• Temporary transfer. If someone in your home is in crisis, ask a trusted friend, family member, or gun dealer to hold your firearms temporarily. This is not giving up your rights. It is protecting your family.

Free gun locks are available through Project ChildSafe at no cost. There is no reason not to use them.

How to talk to your family about this

The hardest part of firearm suicide prevention is having the first conversation. Here is a framework that works:

Start with the data, not the fear. “I read that 60% of gun deaths are suicides. I did not know that. I think we should talk about how we store our firearms.”

Make it about everyone, not one person. Do not single someone out. Frame it as a household safety practice, like having a fire extinguisher or knowing where the first aid kit is.

Ask the direct question when needed. If you are worried about someone specifically, ask: “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” Research consistently shows that asking does not plant the idea. It opens the door.

Have a plan before the crisis. Decide as a family what you will do if someone is struggling. Who holds the firearms? Who do you call? Having a plan when things are calm makes it easier to act when they are not.

Warning signs to watch for

People in suicidal crisis often show signs beforehand, but those signs are easy to miss or explain away, especially in families where talking about feelings is not the norm.

Watch for:

• Talking about being a burden (“You would all be better off without me”)
• Withdrawing from activities and relationships they used to value
• Giving away possessions, especially meaningful items
• Increased drinking or drug use
• Dramatic mood swings or sudden calm after a period of depression
• Sleeping much more or much less than usual
• Expressing hopelessness (“Nothing is going to change”)

None of these signs alone means someone is suicidal. But a cluster of them, especially combined with access to firearms, is reason to act.

What to do in a crisis

If you believe someone is in immediate danger:

1. Call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). You can call or text, 24/7.
2. Do not leave them alone. Stay with them until professional help arrives.
3. Remove access to firearms if it is safe to do so. This is the single most impactful thing you can do.
4. Listen without judgment. You do not need to have answers. You need to be present.
5. Take them to an emergency room if the risk is immediate and you cannot reach crisis support.

Populations at higher risk

Certain groups face elevated rates of firearm suicide. If someone you love falls into one of these categories, awareness is especially important:

• Veterans and active military: Significantly higher suicide rates, high firearm access
• Men over 65: The highest rate of firearm suicide of any demographic, yet the least likely to seek help
• Construction and trades workers: 3-5 times the suicide rate of the general population
• Rural communities: Higher gun ownership, lower access to mental health services
• People going through major life transitions: Job loss, divorce, financial crisis, retirement

This is personal for me

My mother Joyce died by suicide when I was 20 months old. I do not have memories of her, only photographs and family stories. That loss shaped everything. The businesses I built, the advocacy work, the Everytown fellowship, the keynotes I deliver on this topic. All of it traces back to her.

I share her story not for sympathy, but because specificity is what moves people from awareness to action. If you want to learn more about my work on this issue, visit my firearm suicide prevention page or read about my advocacy work.

Resources

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, press 1
• Project ChildSafe: Free gun locks and safe storage information
• Means Matter (Harvard): Research on means restriction and suicide prevention

If you are an event planner or organizational leader interested in bringing this conversation to your audience, book a keynote. This topic resonates across political lines because it focuses on practical solutions, not partisan debate.

Last updated: April 8, 2026