Dear John,
Today we have some good news to share about how our work is saving lives.
Here’s a shocking statistic - suicide rates by firearm increased throughout the United States by 10% between 2019 and 2021. During this period, firearm suicides were solely responsible for increased suicide rates during the pandemic. However, in Washington State, the firearm suicide rate decreased by 6%! This decrease goes against the national trend and underscores the impact you have had in our home state.
Right now, suicide by firearm is a leading cause of death in the United States, and it is especially devastating among young people and veterans. We know that when people have easy access to firearms during a moment of crisis, our communities experience more gun suicides.
Thanks to your support John, we have made tremendous progress in the fight against gun violence. This year, our victories included passing eight vital gun violence prevention and community safety bills, defending policies against gun lobbyists, collaborating with community-led violence prevention groups, and we aim to do even more.
Here are just a few victories we made to help reduce firearm suicide throughout Washington: