AFSP sets goal to recruit 500 firearms instructors at SHOT Show 2025 and continue its lifesaving mission through firearms education and safety
Firearms instructors can further help to save lives by including suicide prevention messaging in firearms courses. Today, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), one of the leading suicide research and prevention organizations in the U.S., launched its Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Firearms Instructors. Through a short, scripted slide deck comprised of evidence informed content, instructors will have more tools to easily educate participants in their firearms courses on how to prevent suicide in homes and in their communities.
“While 61% of firearms owners in the U.S. have received formal instruction in safety, most firearms courses to date do not include suicide prevention in their curriculum,” said Ryan Price, MPA, director of special projects, AFSP. “Suicide accounts for more than half of all firearms related deaths in the U.S. Including suicide prevention in firearms safety courses is critical and I’m so proud of the work AFSP has done to launch this toolkit, help instructors – with the goal of recruiting 500 firearms instructors at SHOT Show – and continue its mission to save lives.”
AFSP recognizes we must take a proactive education safety approach to address firearms and suicide. This starts with recognizing misconceptions about lethal means. According to the 2024 Public Perception of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Poll, a critical educational gap exists, with only half of adults (49%) polled knowing that limiting access to lethal means, including firearms, can prevent suicide. AFSP is working to educate the public and provide steps they can take to minimize the risk posed when mental health struggles exist. In addition to the newly launched Toolkit for Firearms Instructors, the organization offers Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention, a community-based presentation that also covers firearms and educates about secure storage.
AFSP representatives will be onsite at SHOT Show at booth 42307 and the organization’s own Ryan Price will be featured on a panel during SHOT University: New Efforts in the Industry’s Fight to Reduce Suicide, taking place Thursday, January 23, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PT in the Murano Ballroom. Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) and shooting ranges are among the most important partners in the firearm industry’s efforts to educate staff and customers on how to prevent suicide. The discussion will delve into efforts in the fight against suicide in this community.
From offering suicide prevention education for retailers, range owners and firearms owners to encouraging secure storage, AFSP is taking action through public education, advocacy, and research to save lives. To help make suicide prevention education a basic component of firearms ownership, AFSP has worked in ongoing partnership with NSSF to help distribute materials to its national network of retailers and ranges developing brochures to provide practical guidance to firearm owners on suicide prevention, and for firearms retailers and range owners in the rare event that a suicide occurs at the facility. AFSP encourages firearm instructors to share these resources with the retailers and ranges they work with.
Learn more about AFSP’s efforts in firearms and suicide prevention at afsp.org/firearms and about the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Firearms Instructors here. For those interested in receiving copies of the brochure for firearms instructors, please email education@afsp.org.
About The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
As a reminder, suicide is a public health matter and most often a result of a mental health condition in combination with other risk factors. How we talk about suicide in the media can negatively or positively influence the health outcomes of those who are vulnerable to suicide. To reduce the risk of suicide contagion we encourage journalists to follow guidelines for reporting on suicide: www.afsp.org/safereporting.
About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
