McClellan Joins Brownley to Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and nearly 70 House Democrats to introduce a resolution designating September 10th as National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day. The resolution seeks to raise awareness about the growing firearm suicide crisis in the United States and promote the importance of storing firearms safely and securely to help curb firearm suicide. 

“Firearms are the most common method of death by suicide, but we can take steps to help curb those trends,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Safe and secure firearm storage will help reduce unintentional and firearm suicide deaths. The National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day resolution calls attention to the troubling realities of firearm suicide and resolves to educate and promote awareness around safe gun storage. I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her leadership and look forward to working with her to advance it.” 

“The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague communities throughout our country and forever changes the lives of families who have lost someone to gun death. However, the debate surrounding gun safety overlooks the role that guns often play in suicide,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “In recognizing Firearm Suicide Prevention Day, we are bringing much needed awareness to this heartbreaking crisis and focusing on how to prevent firearm suicide to keep our children, families, our nation’s veterans, friends, and loved ones safe.

According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, in 2022, a firearm was used in 54.6% of all suicides in the United States. With an average of 74 people dying by gun suicide in the United States each day, as reported by Brady, and easy gun access increasing the risk of death by suicide by 300%, we cannot address suicide without talking about guns and the importance of safe gun storage. 

Veterans and youth are particularly at risk of firearm suicide, with 71% of veteran suicide deaths resulting from firearm use, and 75% of youth firearm suicides – where storage could be identified – occurring when the gun used was stored loaded and unlocked. 

Watch McClellan's video on the resolution introduction here. Read the full resolution text here.