Dear John, Suicide by gun is the invisible gun violence epidemic. In 1982, my brilliant, creative, fascinating mother took her own life with a gun. Because the victims of gun suicide hardly ever make the news, we tend to forget about this terrible epidemic of gun violence. Well, I can never forget. And I don’t want you to, either. Every day, our state gun violence prevention leaders hear similar heart-breaking stories and work hard to make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen to other people’s mothers. Or fathers. Or to their children. Or their sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends or colleagues. They know how to stop this epidemic: By reducing access to guns. We know from the research that the risk that a woman will commit suicide increases by a factor of 3 if she has access to a gun (for men, it’s by a factor of 4). Because suicide is a taboo subject in American culture, it’s easy to overlook this hidden scourge of gun violence taking place right under our noses. Mass shootings are horrendous. Because they make the news, we know about that horror. Suicide by gun is equally horrific, equally devastating. But it is concealed, obscured, unnoticed. And, regrettably, suicide by gun happens way too frequently. Suicides are twice as common as homicides, and more than half of all suicides involve a gun. Some 23,000 deaths each year are caused by gun suicide. I’m proud to be part of a network of state leaders who work to reduce access to guns and thereby increase the chance that wonderful people like my mother live to see another day. This week is National Suicide Prevention Week. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, you are not alone – confidential help is available for free. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. Thanks for all you do, Karen Abrams Interim Executive Director Check out what your state is doing to end gun violence! | 