Gun violence in the U.S. has rightly garnered much attention lately. Typically, the media focuses on homicide and violent assaults, rather than the much more insidious fact that over 60 percent of gun deaths are suicides.
Washington state voters will have a chance this November to help prevent some of these unnecessary tragedies from happening when we vote on Initiative 1491.
My husband is a nurse in the emergency department of a large trauma center, and witnesses first-hand the effects of committing suicide by gun. Those who attempt suicide by other means are much more likely to fail, and, it has been shown again and again, are thankful that they did fail, once they get the help they so desperately needed.
I-1491 would allow family and friends to alert a judge to a suicide risk, and have firearms temporarily removed from that person’s possession. I-1491 will honor individuals’ rights both to life and liberty by ensuring due process, and will help keep Washingtonians safe from a regrettable impulse. To safeguard this type of measure from being abused, a high standard of proof is required, and there are penalties for knowingly providing false information.
Please vote yes on I-1491!
