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      There are approximately 18 million living veterans in the United States. Veteran voices, values, and experiences are an integral part of the nation’s gun violence prevention movement.

      Veterans for Gun Safety

      If you are a veteran, please join us. Sign up, and we will be in touch soon with more opportunities for veterans to amplify their unique and important voices in the fight for gun safety.

      Veterans’ unique and valuable understanding of guns comes from the three basic pillars of military gun culture: 

      1. Training
      2. Safety
      3. Accountability

      These principles were demanded of every veteran while in military service. But these crucial pillars are often lacking in civilian culture and American laws. 

      More Americans have been killed by guns since 1968 than in all of the wars in U.S. history.

      Veterans and Gun Violence Prevention

      Veterans are respected by the American people for their service. Veterans are trusted for their opinions on gun safety and gun violence prevention. And veterans are knowledgeable because they come from a profession of arms.

      Veterans can influence:

      • Policy changes
      • Cultural shifts
      • Grassroots activities 

      What Do Veterans Have To Say About …?

      Veterans and Suicide Prevention

      Support for Those in Crisis

      If you are a veteran in crisis—or you’re concerned about one—free, confidential support is available 24/7. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online at veteranscrisisline.net.

      If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline provides free 24/7 confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.

      Firearm suicide claims the lives of over 25,000 people in America every year, and the problem is getting worse. Over the past decade, the United States firearm suicide rate has increased by 18 percent. 

      This trend is of particular concern among veterans, who are more likely to die by firearm suicide than non-veterans. An average of 4,600 veterans die by firearm suicide every year—nearly 13 deaths a day. 

      While many assume that suicide in veterans is associated with their time while deployed, in fact, veterans who served during the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan who were not deployed1Han K. Kang, Tim A. Bullman, Derek J. Smolenski, Nancy A. Skopp, Gregory A. Gahm, and Mark A. Reger, “Suicide Risk among 1.3 Million Veterans Who Were on Active Duty during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars,” Annals of Epidemiology 25, no. 2 (February 2015): 96–100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.11.020. Study determined deployment from the Defense Manpower Data Center Contingency Tracking System records of soldiers deployed to the war zones of Iraq or Afghanistan. had higher suicide rates than those who were deployed.

      But one thing is clear: addressing the unique role firearms play is an integral part of efforts to end veteran suicide. Because of this, we recognize the role that Everytown plays in helping to solve this public health epidemic among those who have served our country.

      If you or someone you know is in crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 connection to free, confidential support anywhere in the US. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
      Si usted o alguien que conoce está en crisis, la línea de vida 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline brinda conexión las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana para obtener asistencia gratuita y confidencial en cualquier lugar de los EE. UU. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 988 o chatee en 988lifeline.org
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      An average of 4,600 veterans die by firearm suicide every year—nearly 13 deaths a day. [source] EverytownResearch.org/VeteranSuicideReport
      Nationwide, nearly 87,000 military veteran died by firearm suicide in the period between 2002 and 2021. [source] EverytownResearch.org/VeteranSuicideReport

      Continuum of Firearm Storage for Preventing Gun Suicide

      Suicidal crises are often very brief. Ensuring that someone experiencing a suicidal crisis does not have easy access to lethal means can prevent a moment of despair from becoming an irreversible tragedy.

      Gun access interventions exist on a continuum: different actions that can be taken depending on the severity of the crisis and other factors. These factors include:

      • Whether the person in crisis owns firearms;
      • How many firearms are in the home;
      • How those firearms are stored; and
      • How willing the person is to voluntarily reduce their own access to firearms.
      Learn more and share about the Continuum of Intervention

      MERITxZOE

      MERITxZOE is a short impact film about veterans, purpose, and mental health. The comedy drama centers on Merit and Zoe, two female veterans and best friends from the Army. The two are at odds but inexorably connected. In this film, we see how their words and actions have a profound impact on each other’s lives—and how something as simple as talk therapy can make the difference between life and death.

      MERITxZOE is written and directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, a member of the Everytown Veterans Advisory Council and an Army combat veteran who knows post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) firsthand. He has lost three battle buddies to suicide and has been creating films about the veteran experience for a decade.

      Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is proud to be one of three impact partners on this film alongside The Mission Continues and the Bob Woodruff Foundation to raise awareness of gun safety measures that can help prevent veteran suicide.

      The story is personal. The characters are inspired by real people. The voice is authentic.

      Click here to learn how to host a screening of MERITxZOE

      Disclaimer: MERITxZOE is intended for mature audiences. There are scenes that could potentially activate past trauma for viewers, including for survivors of gun violence or those with PTSD. We encourage hosts to watch the film beforehand to become familiar with the content, and ask that you take these factors into consideration as you choose a location and audience for your screening.

      Stories

      In the News

      Get Involved

      There are many ways that veterans choose to engage with gun violence prevention. Some write op-eds to share their stance on a policy or current news issue. Others volunteer with their local Moms Demand Action group to work for change at a grassroots level. 

      I’m a Veteran. How Do I Join the Movement?

      • Veterans for Gun Safety: If you are a veteran, please join us. Sign up, and we will be in touch soon with more opportunities for veterans to amplify their unique and important voices in the fight for gun safety.
      • Join your local Moms Demand Action Group.

      I’m Not a Veteran. How Can I Engage Veteran Voices in My Work?

      • It is important to remember that there is no one “veteran voice” or “veteran perspective” on gun violence prevention. The views, voices, and experiences of veterans are diverse.
      • Donate in honor of veterans.

      Resources

      Those Who Serve

      Since 2018, Everytown Research has published an annual report called Those Who Serve: Addressing Firearm Suicide Among Military Veterans. It uses data from the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a detailed overview of the role guns play in veteran suicide.

      Read the full report

      Continuum of Firearm Storage for Preventing Gun Suicide

      Suicidal crises are often very brief. Ensuring that someone experiencing a suicidal crisis does not have easy access to lethal means can prevent a moment of despair from becoming an irreversible tragedy.

      Gun access interventions exist on a continuum: a chain of actions that can be taken depending on the severity of the crisis and other factors. These factors include:

      • Whether the person in crisis owns firearms;
      • How many firearms are in the home;
      • How those firearms are stored; and
      • How willing the person is to voluntarily reduce their own access to firearms.
      Learn more about the continuum of firearm storage

      About the Everytown Veterans Advisory Council

      The Everytown Veterans Advisory Council is a group of military veterans who provide advice and support to advance gun violence prevention work across the country. Members of the Everytown Veterans Advisory Council lend their voices to the gun violence prevention movement and help shape the strategy and direction of both Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action. 

      Did you know?

      Every day, 125 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.

      Everytown Research analysis of CDC, WONDER, Provisional Mortality Statistics, Multiple Cause of Death, 2019–2023; Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project nonfatal firearm injury data, 2020; and SurveyUSA, Market Research Study #26602, 2022.

      Last updated: 11.8.2024