—Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne–South Bend, in Today's Catholic, 14 August 2019

Safe Storage Saves Lives

As we conclude Suicide Prevention Month, remind Congress that safe storage of firearms is one of the most effective ways to save lives. Gun suicide claims the lives of nearly 27,000 people in the U.S. every year, but policies that interrupt firearm access in times of mental health crisis are proven effective. Ethan's Law (S.726 / H.R. 1564) has been introduced in Congress every year since 2019 and would mandate secure storage for weapons in the home, protecting minors and those in mental health crisis from deadly access.

Background

While mass shootings often grab the headlines, nearly six out of every ten gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides. Even as gun homicide rates continue to fall, firearm suicide deaths reached an all-time high in 2025. Particularly troubling is the increase in youth suicide, especially in Black and Brown communities. 

Safe storage laws are an effective disruptor to these tragedies because having access to a gun triples one's risk of death by suicide. Guns also leave no room for a second chance, crucial when most survivors of a suicide attempt do not die from a later attempt. Mental health care and communal support are essential tools, as are policies that prevent crisis moments from becoming deadly.

Ethan's Law would mandate secure residential storage for the over 400 million civilian-owned guns in the U.S. Rather than a patchwork of state and local laws, federal requirements would ensure that no matter where you live, the same safety is afforded to all.