Content warning: This email reflects on suicide in the veteran community. If this is too much to read, we understand. Take care of yourself and skip the rest of this email. Here are some mental health resources that you may find helpful.
Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who served — today and every day.
Those who put their lives on the line for our freedoms should not be taken for granted, and they deserve more than what they’re afforded now.
It’s estimated that four times as many active duty service members and veterans died by suicide as died in battle since 9/11. More than 6,000 American veterans die by suicide each year, and nearly 70% of these deaths involve firearms.
These statistics are unacceptable. We must do better for veterans.
Let’s do better by enacting safe storage laws, red flag laws, and raising the minimum age to purchase firearms.
Let’s do better for our veterans by reforming our healthcare system to ensure they can get the proper mental health help they need.
Let’s do better because we can. Because we should. Because the influence of the gun lobby on our politicians shouldn’t determine whether someone lives or dies.
This is the future we’re fighting for. And we won’t stop until it’s our reality.
In solidarity,
March For Our Lives