1. Safe Storage – Store guns safely: locked and unloaded. Ask your friends and family to do the same. As the only state requiring residents to safely store firearms when not in use, Massachusetts’ youth are 55% less likely to die by suicide than the national average and guns are used in only 9% of youth suicides compared to the national 39%. Safe storage saves lives.
2. Educate – open healthy dialogue about mental health and suicide in Vermont and protect healthcare professionals’ right to share information about gun safety with their patients.
3. Keep Guns Away from Individuals in Crisis – If you know of someone who poses a danger to self or others, contact the police. ERPO (S.221 above) can temporarily remove guns from the equation and may save a life.
4. Join and support GunSense Vermont – and help lobby for an extended waiting period for gun purchases.