{"id":68596,"date":"2019-06-19T21:06:43","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T21:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/19\/veterans-suicide-prevention-efforts-will-include-more-discussions-on-firearm-safety\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:48:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:48:31","slug":"veterans-suicide-prevention-efforts-will-include-more-discussions-on-firearm-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2019\/06\/19\/veterans-suicide-prevention-efforts-will-include-more-discussions-on-firearm-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans suicide prevention efforts will include more discussions on firearm safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/05\/22\/plans-to-combat-veterans-suicide-boost-va-benefits-move-ahead\/\" target=_blank>suicide prevention efforts<\/a> in coming months will include increased focus on veterans\u2019 access to firearms,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/05\/15\/trumps-va-secretary-says-its-not-2009-anymore\/\" target=_blank> Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie<\/a> said during a Capitol Hill appearance Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is key,\u201d he said during a Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee hearing on his department\u2019s recent efforts to address the problem. \u201cSeventy percent of veterans who (die by suicide) do so with firearms. We\u2019re dealing with a population that has a special familiarity with firearms. So we\u2019re working on ways to build time and space \u2026 between thoughts and impulsive acts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comments came just two days after the first formal meeting of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/03\/05\/the-new-plan-to-prevent-veteran-suicides-new-grants-better-research-more-community-focus\/\" target=_blank>new presidential task force on preventing veterans suicide<\/a>, part of a year-long effort to re-energize government\u2019s approach to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/04\/25\/recent-series-of-campus-suicides-raise-complicated-questions-for-va\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"288\" height=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baypines.jfif_.jpg?w=288\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Recent series of campus suicides raise complicated questions for VA<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Three veterans died by suicide at VA medical sites in six days, but the department has seen an overall decrease in campus suicides in recent years.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The group, which includes eight cabinet officials and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, named as its executive director Barbara Van Dahlen, founder of the mental health advocacy organization Give an Hour. Wilkie said the work ahead will help establish a strategic plan to coordinate federal, state and community efforts on prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And he also said that work will include discussions of firearms. The topic has long been a problematic political debate on Capitol Hill, with critics calling any discussion of limiting unstable veterans\u2019 access to weapons a violation of their constitutional rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Wilkie said his department has already partnered with several firms to provide gun locks to veterans, and is looking at additional education for veterans on firearms storage and safety issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That will include gun safety instruction for veterans caregivers, and more information for veterans families about resources on firearms storage and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Veteran&#8217;s Crisis Line &#8212; available to veterans, troops and their families &#8212; operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Zachary Hada\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the $9.5 billion set aside for veterans mental health services in the department\u2019s fiscal 2020 budget request, \u201csome will be dedicated to outreach and education on firearms,\u201d Wilkie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the hearing, Wilkie emphasized that none of the work would be contrary to state or federal laws regarding firearms possession and use. \u201cBut we are looking at all areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several Democratic senators pushed for additional commitments on the issue. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he wants a specific VA task force dedicated to gun violence and the department\u2019s potential role in countering the public health problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilkie said only that he was committed to making the issue a part of the existing presidential task force on suicide prevention. He also said reducing the number of suicides will require a whole-of-society effort, not just government mandates.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/03\/05\/the-new-plan-to-prevent-veteran-suicides-new-grants-better-research-more-community-focus\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4018590.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The new plan to prevent veteran suicides: new grants, better research, more community focus<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The president will sign a new executive order on Tuesday creating a task force with a deadline of one year for aggressive new solutions to the problem.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans advocates echoed that message, and said they can also play a role in the guns discussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retired Col. Miguel Howe, a research fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, said peer groups can help \u201craise awareness of the dangers of firearm access for those veterans at elevated risk and in acute crisis, and promote safe storage and removal when necessary.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Arthur Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association, hailed the move by VA. \u201cPsychological research shows that putting time and distance between a veteran in crisis and a firearm is lifesaving,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to VA estimates, about 20 veterans a day die by suicide. Of that group, about 14 have little or no contact with department health and support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, troops or their families can also text 838255 or visit <a href=\"http:\/\/veteranscrisisline.net\/\" target=_blank>VeteransCrisisLine.net<\/a> for assistance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said broaching the topic is important to save more veterans lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":103457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,12,26,62,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3222],"class_list":["post-68596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"VAFCPUDRQRFH7PQJIB7QERHDTI","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/06\/19\/veterans-suicide-prevention-efforts-will-include-more-discussions-on-firearm-safety\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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