Talking About Guns AND Mental Health
At Walk the Talk America (WTTA), we believe in the power of informed, compassionate conversations to bridge the gap between mental health and responsible firearm ownership. This page guides you in addressing challenging topics, fostering understanding, and creating curiosity. We find it important not to set the goal of changing people’s minds but to open them to perspectives they haven’t considered before.
Important Statistics To Know
Suicide by firearm makes up 54.6% of all suicides and 56.1% of all firearm deaths. (Data from the CDC 2022)
On average, we lose 74 people EVERY DAY to suicide by firearm. (Data from the CDC 2022)
Talking Point 1:
Mental Health is Just as Important as Physical Health
Key Message: Mental health challenges are common and manageable, and seeking help should be as routine as visiting a doctor for a physical checkup.
How to Talk About It:
- Example: “Just like we take care of our bodies, it’s important to care for our minds. Putting effort into your mental health doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re responsible.”
- Tough Question: “Does talking about mental health mean gun owners will lose their rights?”
- Response: “Sadly, there are instances where this is very real. Thankfully, that seems to be more rare than the norm. WTTA is about empowering gun owners with resources and tools to handle life’s challenges without fear. Walk the Talk America partners with organizations like The Armory Project, which promotes voluntary temporary storage when you feel a little off. We hope more options like this program expand in the United States that help gun owners have resources instead of being hesitant to seek help for fear of unnecessary consequences.”
Talking Point 2:
Firearm Ownership and Mental Health Can Coexist
Key Message: Responsible gun ownership includes mental health awareness and storing firearms responsibly in a way that prevents unauthorized access.
How to Talk About It:
- Example: “Owning a firearm is a serious responsibility, and that includes being aware of our mental state. Reponsible gun ownership needs to evolve past gun safety 101 and add putting effort into preventing our mental health from slipping out of control just like we prepare for defensive firearm use…”
- Tough Question: “Why does WTTA oppose gun control?”
- Response: “Our goal is cultural change, not control. We believe in reducing negative outcomes of firearms through education and by providing accessible mental health resources, not by taking away rights.”
Talking Point 3:
Suicide Prevention is a Shared 2A Community Responsibility
Key Message: Not too long ago, when a tragic suicide took place in the community, no one talked about it, and everyone “moved on.” This is starting to change. There is no one better than the 2A community to reduce the 74 people we lose a day to suicide by firearm than us. This will take everyone from the large manufacturers, distributors, and gun shops. To the individual gun owners to make mental health a priority.
How to Talk About It:
- Example: “Most firearm deaths are suicides, but that’s something we can prevent by having honest conversations and offering support.”
- Tough Question: “How can gun owners better plan for a mental health crisis when they feel fine today?”
- Response: “Everyone can easily identify the individual who is in crisis. No one ever thinks that will ever be them. We must build a culture where preventative mental health efforts are the norm. That might look like answering questions in our Mental Health Plan. Some gun owners have a home defense plan, why not create one for your own dome?”
Learn More
We want to thank you for taking the time to learn more about some ways you can be part of the changing culture of responsible gun ownership. We invite you to explore these other popular resources of WTTA, to give you more ways to talk about guns and mental health.