Gun Violence, Suicide, and the Cost We Keep Paying**

Every year, it feels like gun violence in the United States gets worse.

Not just on the news — but in real life.

On a weekly basis, I hear gunshots within blocks of my home.

Mass shootings have become something we almost expect to hear about.

Schools — places meant for learning and safety — are being attacked.

Domestic violence turns deadly at gunpoint.

And more and more lives are lost to suicide by firearm.

This isn’t abstract anymore.

It’s personal. It’s constant. And it’s heavy.

Gun Violence Is a Public Health Issue

We often talk about gun violence as a political issue, but at its core, it’s a health crisis.

Gun violence affects:

physical safety

mental health

families and communities

children’s sense of security

long-term trauma for survivors and witnesses

Suicide by firearm is especially devastating. It’s fast, lethal, and often happens during moments of acute crisis — when someone might have survived if there had been time, space, or intervention.

The Impact on Children and Communities

Children are growing up doing active shooter drills.

Parents worry about sending kids to school.

Entire neighborhoods live with chronic stress, hypervigilance, and grief.

When violence becomes normalized, it changes how people move through the world. It affects sleep, anxiety levels, trust, and community connection.

That’s not healthy. And it shouldn’t be accepted as normal.

So What’s the Answer?

There is no single fix. But pretending nothing can be done isn’t the answer either.

Addressing gun violence means looking at multiple layers at once:

mental health access and

crisis support

suicide prevention and

early intervention

safe storage and responsible ownership

domestic violence prevention

community-based violence

interruption addressing poverty, trauma, and social isolation

Other public health crises were reduced by treating them seriously, investing in prevention, and caring about human life more than convenience.

This should be no different.

Choosing Care Over Silence

Talking about gun violence isn’t about taking sides.

It’s about protecting lives.

It’s about caring for children, families, neighbors, and people who are struggling quietly. It’s about asking why we accept this level of loss — and whether we’re willing to do better.

Because hearing gunshots near home shouldn’t be normal.

Mass shootings shouldn’t be routine.

And suicide shouldn’t be this easy.

We owe ourselves — and each other — more safety, more care, and more courage to face this honestly.