State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10th dist.) released a statement in response to the release of the initial report from Gov. Tom Wolf’s Suicide Prevention Task Force.
The task force is a part of Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters.
Informed by the testimonies and suggestions of people affected by suicide, mental health professionals and other stakeholders from across the state, the report will be used to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy of significantly reducing the number of suicides in Pennsylvania.
One of the themes identified by the task force is that the legislature could take direct action to prevent suicides through the passage of a Red Flag law (to provide a means to remove firearms from someone at risk for suicide) or safe storage requirements for firearms. Fifty-two percent of suicides were committed with a firearm.
“To that end, I am proud to be the sponsor of Senate Bills 137 and 138, which address the safe storage of firearms when residing with a person not to possess a firearm, and when a firearm is not in use, respectively,” Santarsiero said. “The Pennsylvania legislature has waited long enough. Safe storage is not just about responsible gun ownership, but about saving lives. This safe storage legislation has been proposed for a year. Direct action is long overdue, and I encourage my colleagues in the state Senate and House to consider the Suicide Prevention Task Force’s findings as we work to better help the people of Pennsylvania.”
To read the full report from the Suicide Prevention Task Force, go to dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/Suicide-Prevention.aspx.
