Washington, D.C., May 12, 2022 - Today, Brady thanks and applauds the Judd family for bravely sharing that Naomi Judd died by firearm suicide, bringing attention to this increasing crisis. Firearm suicide, a form of Family Fire, is the most lethal form of suicide and the majority of both gun deaths and suicide deaths are gun suicide. Worryingly, gun suicide is also increasing nationwide. The latest CDC data shows that an average of 65 people die of gun suicide everyday. Delaying access to lethal means during a time of crisis is critical. Brady urges those concerned about their mental health or friends and family who are concerned about a friend or loved one to have frank conversations about access to firearms and any firearms in the home. Solutions such as safely storing firearms can save lives.If you are contemplating suicide, would like emotional support, or need someone to lean on, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “TALK” to 741-741.End Family Fire Director Colleen Creighton shared:
“The Judd family’s bravery in candidly sharing Naomi Judd’s story will save lives by bringing attention to this national emergency and sparking conversations about mental health and access to firearms in times of crisis. The truth is that gun suicides comprise the majority of gun deaths every year; an average of 65 people die by gun suicide each and every day in this country. In Tennessee, the firearm suicide rate has increased by 16.9 percent over the last decade, while the firearm suicide rate for white women over 65, such as Naomi Judd, has increased by 68.7 percent, far outpacing the increases seen nationally.The continual increase in firearm suicide throughout the country is a crisis. But, importantly, suicide can be preventable and for firearm owners, discussing mental health, suicidal ideation and guns in the home is crucial. These kinds of conversations are crucial, as stigma surrounding suicide has created barriers to accessing resources and care. Normalizing these conversations is a critical step to preventing suicide. Simple solutions such as safely storing firearms can create a physical and time barrier that stops individuals in crisis considering suicide from accessing a firearm. These discussions and actions can save lives. Individuals looking for information on this issue can visit EndFamilyFire.org for facts and resources on simple ways to safely store firearms within your home to help keep your family safe.”
About the Intersection of Guns and Suicide:Gun suicide comprises both the largest portion of suicide deaths and gun deaths every year. 90 percent of suicide attempts with a gun are fatal, while approximately 60 percent of gun deaths each yeara are gun suicides. Sadly, this is an increasing crisis. Over the past decade, the overall suicide rate and the firearm suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by over 12 percent. This crisis affects every community, but particularly affects white Americans and older, white Americans most acutely. Nationally, the suicide rate among white people over 65 is 19.95 per 100,000 persons and 14.49 per 100,000 persons for firearm suicide, specifically, well above the national average of 13.70 per 100,000 for all persons and all methods and 6.88 per 100,000 for all persons for firearm suicide. Crucially, interventions that place physical distance and time between an individual in crisis and a firearm can help to prevent gun suicide and delay a suicide attempt. Simple solutions such as safely storing a firearm can create these physical and temporal barriers and help to save lives.About End Family Fire:End Family Fire, a joint effort from Brady and the Ad Council, aims to put a name to the preventable tragedies that occur when guns are misused. “Family fire,” a term developed for the campaign, refers to a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun found in the home that results in death or injury. Incidents may include unintentional shootings, suicides, and other gun-related tragedies. The campaign aims to bring awareness to the issue of family fire, give gun owners a role in gun violence prevention, and encourage a national dialogue around safe storage practices—all of which can help prevent further family fire-related tragedies.
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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