WASHINGTON, D.C. — During Suicide Prevention Month, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide more resources and better protect veterans struggling with mental health conditions. In a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the Maine Delegation is requesting the VA set aside funding for Regional VA Offices to provide veterans gun safes and lockboxes to safely store firearms.

Maine’s veteran population suffers from one of the highest rates of suicide in the country. As part of the Governor’s Challenge, the VA, the Maine Bureau of Veterans Service and partner organizations have attempted to distribute gun locks and safes upon request to help decrease suicides and self-harm. Studies have shown these distribution efforts can help save lives, and, in turn, the demand for safe firearm storage has been high. The Maine Bureau of Veterans Services received over 2,500 requests for gun locks over the past three years. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, fewer than ten Maine veterans received gun lockboxes or safes.

“On average, seventeen U.S. veterans die by suicide every day. A rate that is 57% greater than that of their civilian counterparts. In the state of Maine, roughly 75% of these deaths of despair are self-inflicted using a firearm,” wrote Senator King and Representatives Pingree and Golden. “During your recent visit to Maine, we discussed how essential safe gun storage can be to a veteran in crisis. In addition, you learned about some of the current work being done by the VA in Maine to provide veterans with gun safes, lockboxes, and locks as part of the Governor’s Challenge. Gun safes were particularly sought after by veterans.”

They continued, “That is why the Veterans Benefits Administration should set aside funding for Regional Offices to buy and give away gun safes and gun lockboxes to provide safe storage options for veterans. A number of studies have found that gun storage, such as gun locks, lockboxes, and safes can help prevent suicide. These devices create a moment of pause for veterans who are contemplating harm; putting time and space between a person in crisis and their firearm can save a life.”

As a result, we believe that it is important for the VA to set aside specific funds to distribute gun locks, lockboxes, and safes to veterans in need. We need innovative approaches to support veteran suicide prevention efforts, and providing funding to the safe storage of guns would be incredibly impactful in helping reduce the high rate of veteran suicide,” the concluded.

In August, the Delegation welcomed Secretary McDonough to Maine, at the invitation of Senator King, to visit Togus and see firsthand the challenges facing Maine veterans. During the trip Secretary McDonough visited the Rumford VA Clinic to see the progress made since last year’s enactment of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Pact Act. He also toured Maine Veterans Home in Augusta and the Portland VA Clinic, then joined a panel discussion at the University of Southern Maine for the launch of a statewide “No Homeless Veteran” Challenge.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

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Dear Secretary McDonough, 

On average, seventeen U.S. veterans die by suicide every day. A rate that is 57% greater than that of their civilian counterparts. In the state of Maine, roughly 75% of these deaths of despair are self-inflicted using a firearm. During your recent visit to Maine, we discussed how essential safe gun storage can be to a veteran in crisis. In addition, you learned about some of the current work being done by the VA in Maine to provide veterans with gun safes, lockboxes, and locks as part of the Governor’s Challenge. Gun safes were particularly sought after by veterans.

That is why the Veterans Benefits Administration should set aside funding for Regional Offices to buy and give away gun safes and gun lockboxes to provide safe storage options for veterans. A number of studies have found that gun storage, such as gun locks, lockboxes, and safes can help prevent suicide. These devices create a moment of pause for veterans who are contemplating harm; putting time and space between a person in crisis and their firearm can save a life.

As part of Maine’s Governor’s Challenge, the VA, the Maine Bureau of Veteran Services, and partner organizations are providing information on gun storage and working with gun shops and ranges to allow veterans to safely store their guns in times of crisis. These groups have been distributing gun locks and gun safes since 2020. The demand for these products is clear. To that end, there have been over 2,450 requests for gun locks. However, due to a lack of resources, less than 10 gun lockboxes or safes have been distributed. We can and must do better.

As a result, we believe that it is important for the VA to set aside specific funds to distribute gun locks, lockboxes, and safes to veterans in need. We need innovative approaches to support veteran suicide prevention efforts, and providing funding to the safe storage of guns would be incredibly impactful in helping reduce the high rate of veteran suicide.

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