Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) held a press conference to announce the introduction of a resolution designating the second Tuesday in September, September 9, 2025, as National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day. This day will raise awareness about the growing firearm suicide crisis and underscore the lifesaving importance of safe firearm storage. It will also serve as an opportunity to mobilize and hear from health professionals, researchers, survivors, veterans, and mental health experts about the evidence-based role of safe storage in preventing firearm suicide.

"The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague communities across our nation and forever changes the lives of families who have lost someone to gun death. Too often, the role of firearms in suicide is overlooked," said Congresswoman Brownley. "Suicide is preventable, and safe storage - locked, unloaded, and away from ammunition - can save lives by creating the time and distance that someone in crisis needs to pause and seek help. By recognizing National 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, veterans, and loved ones safe."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, firearms were used in more than 55% of suicides in the United States. Firearms are by far the deadliest method of suicide, with 90% of attempts proving fatal. On average, 74 Americans die by firearm suicide every day, and access to a gun increases the risk of death by suicide by 300%. While 75% of people who survive a suicide attempt never attempt again, most who attempt with a firearm do not get that second chance.

Veterans and youth are particularly at risk. More than 70% of veteran suicide deaths involve a firearm, and 75% of youth firearm suicides - where storage method could be identified - occur when the gun was stored loaded and unlocked. Additionally, 4.6 million children in the United States live in homes with access to an unlocked gun. Research shows that widespread adoption of safe storage practices could prevent nearly one-third of annual gun deaths from suicide and unintentional shootings.

"We have a firearm suicide crisis in our country. Seventy-four Americans use a gun to take their life every day and one in five of gun suicide victims are veterans. It doesn't have to be this way. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass sensible legislation - from safe storage to red flag laws - to prevent firearm suicide and keep Americans safe and healthy," said combat veteran and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (CA-04).

"With 74 Americans dying by firearm suicide every day, suicide by firearm has become the deadliest form of gun violence in America. Most Americans are likely to know and care about someone affected by this crisis," said Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08), Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus. "By marking National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day, we raise awareness about this crisis and the work being done to empower families and communities with the tools to protect their loved ones. Together, we can save lives and ensure that no family endures the preventable pain of losing a loved one to firearm suicide. I thank my colleague Congresswoman Julia Brownley for her leadership on this issue."

"America's deadliest shootings are the ones we don't talk enough about: firearm suicides," said Kris Brown, President of Brady. "We lose 74 people to gun suicide every day in America - more than are lost to firearm homicides and unintentional shootings combined. With the Trump administration's attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, the end of the specialized 988 resource line, mass layoffs, and a deeply uncertain economic time, firearm suicide rates are on the rise. To prevent gun suicide, we need to continue to educate and promote safe firearm storage. Safe gun storage - that is, firearms locked and kept away from ammo - can save lives."

"Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and the CDC reports in 2023, 27,300 people died by firearm suicide - accounting for more than half of all suicides nationwide (58%)," said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "We thank Representatives Brownley, Thompson, and Beyer for recognizing National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day through the bipartisan resolution raising awareness of the importance of lethal means safety. AFSP joins you in preventing firearm suicide from expanding access to secure firearm storage to improving access to mental health treatment and crisis response."

"Our nation is in the midst of a significant suicide crisis, and firearms are the most common method used in suicide and suicide attempts. Means matters and suicide deaths are preventable," said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). "NAMI is honored to support the resolution to mark September 9th as National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day. By raising awareness about the risks of firearm suicides, we can take steps towards prevention and save lives. Together, we can reverse this crisis and reduce suicide deaths."

Original co-sponsors of the resolution include Representatives Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, Sean Casten, Judy Chu, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Chris Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Lizzie Fletcher, John Garamendi, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Timothy M. Kennedy, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Levin, Doris Matsui, Jennifer McClellan, LaMonica McIver, Dave Min, Kelly Morrison, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Johnny Olszewski, Mark Pocan, Emily Randall, Luz Rivas, Deborah Ross, Kim Schrier, Lateefah Simon, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Strong Sykes, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, Mike Thompson, Norma Torres, Dina Titus, Derek T. Tran, Juan Vargas, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.

The resolution is endorsed by Brady, SEAT, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and National Alliance on Mental Illness, leading national organizations working to prevent gun violence and suicide.

The full text of the resolution can be found here. Photos from the press conference can be found here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Gun Safety, Gun Violence Prevention