Mike Levin: “we often rise on this floor to speak on the subject of gun violence and what we can do to prevent it. The debate…”

“we often rise on this floor to speak on the subject of gun violence and what we can do to prevent it. The debate frequently centers on how we can keep guns out of the hands of criminals and what penalty is appropriate for using a gun to commit a crime. While the importance of these debates cannot be overstated, these discussions all too often ignore a second related and equally important issue--gun-related suicide. According to statistics from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, most gun deaths in America are not the result of murder, but suicide. The numbers are particularly shocking for young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1993 through 1997, an average of 1,409 young people took their own lives with guns each year. The connection between access to guns and suicide is particularly strong. In fact, The Brady Campaign reports that the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide fivefold. While this problem cannot simply be legislated away, trigger locks and other sensible gun safety measures can help limit children's access to firearms. It is clear that reducing our kids' access to guns can save lives.”