Balancing Liberty And Safety: Easy Gun Access And Protecting Men's Lives
Caleb Morse is a 39-year-old Army Veteran who joined the 2nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion in 2003, serving two tours in Iraq. After leaving the military, Morse opened a gun shop and shooting range named Rustic Renegade.
In 2018, Morse’s army buddy gave him a call and then a few days later he arrived at Morse’s shop in Lafayette, Lousineasa. He started unloading his truck to bring all of his guns inside. Morse recalled from his time spent in the military that when people start giving away their things they could be considering suicide.
Morse knew something was wrong so he asked him to sit, but when he went to grab two cups of coffee, he returned to see his buddy had already left. 6 months later, Morse received a call from his friend explaining that he had been in a bad spot and was wondering where his guns were.
Morse revealed that he held on to them all this time and said, “They're your guns, man. They're yours, you may want them back. And whenever you're ready, they're here for you.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, 48,344 people died of suicide in the US. Of those deaths, 37,761 were male which is 78% of total suicide deaths. Of those male suicides, 55% (21,101) were executed using firearms.
The numbers in itself are enough to show that this poses a major issue for the United States. To stop the increasing rates of suicide attempts and deaths among males, there should be more campaigns promoting awareness about the dangers of easy access to lethal means.
Society has changed dramatically over the years however men’s mental health continues to go unrecognized. Some of the most prevalent mental health concerns in men are depression, anxiety, and PTSD and men are 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide as compared to women because they tend to choose more lethal weapons, such as firearms.
There are over 6 million men in the US who suffer from depression each year, however, depression in males often goes undiagnosed. The societal expectations of masculinity that are pressured onto men make them less likely to talk to others about their feelings and seek professional help. From this, men can experience depression and anxiety which may lead to suicidal thoughts.
The numbers do not lie and to help decrease these rates, it is important to bring awareness to men's mental health. With the number of male depressions rising, access to these lethal means such as firearms can increase the chances of men acting on these impulses, and considering firearms account for the most amount of suicide deaths among males, limiting access to firearms can significantly help men in need.
As US citizens we have our Second Amendment right which states, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” We must protect ourselves when needed but when the threat becomes ourselves, storing the guns in a secure spot by leaving them with a trusted family member or friend can save your life.
Veterans Health Administration created this 60-second PSA:
The answer is not taking away guns completely, it is the imperativeness to bring awareness to men’s mental health and promote ways to decrease the rates of their suicides. The impulse for most suicide attempts only lasts a few minutes, and if a person's firearms are securely stored away or handed to a trusted family member or friend, the probability of them committing suicide decreases significantly. They may struggle to find another means of execution and when they cannot find another means, the impulse has most likely already ended.
On the contrary, one may think that they could just turn to another means of suicide like for example, ingesting pills. While yes this is true, firearms are the most lethal, therefore if one were to settle for something like ingesting pills, it would be less lethal and the probability of surviving said method would be higher.
The stigma behind men's mental health is something that should be talked about more, and shedding light on this situation could help save a lot of people's lives and make a difference in the world. By providing campaigns around the US and the world, men can be encouraged to seek help. With the help of campaigning, people can also be educated on the dangers of having easy access to lethal means.
By promoting communication and resources for men, the rates of suicides can be dropped. It is crucial to spread the word about male depression and the usage of these lethal means. By utilizing various platforms such as television, social media, community events, and the radio, relaying information to the public about the dangers of firearms can help decrease these numbers and empower men to seek help.
If Caleb Morse’s friend held on to his firearms, there is a likely chance that the number of suicide deaths in 2018 would be 1 number higher. If you see something, say something. Protecting our fellow citizens around us is our duty as an American, and by promoting gun safety and considering men's mental health, we can positively change the world around us.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or mental health concerns, never be ashamed to reach out for help. The national suicide and crisis hotline is 988.
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