Seth Moulton: “Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and Firearm Suicide Prevention Day. In 2022, almost 50,000 Americans died by…”

“Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and Firearm Suicide Prevention Day. In 2022, almost 50,000 Americans died by suicide. 1.6 million Americans attempted suicide. More than half of all gun deaths in the United States are by suicide. On average, we lose 74 people to a firearm suicide every single day. The firearms suicide rate among children in the U.S. is growing. More younger Americans are struggling with their mental health than ever before, and we know that when there is a gun in the home, the risk of suicide death jumps by 300 percent. The result is tragedy. Each of us here in this Chamber has an enormous responsibility to serve here in Washington and to help Americans, yet Americans are dying, and we are doing little to stop it. Something is seriously broken. Gun deaths are not just a fact of life we should accept. Every gun death is preventable, including self-inflicted ones. Mr. Speaker, 70 percent of those who survive a suicide attempt never attempt it again. That is a remarkable statistic. Mr. Speaker, 70 percent of those who survive a suicide attempt won't try it again. Reducing gun deaths in our country isn't a zero-sum proposition. We have to address gun safety and the mental health crisis. It is not getting too political or a copout to talk about both. First and foremost, reducing firearm-related suicides can be as simple as storing firearms safely and securely, which means locked, unloaded, and separated from ammunition.…”