With Booming Gun Sales, USCCA Prioritizes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention During Coronavirus Pandemic
WEST BEND, WI – In the wake of record-breaking gun sales, the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to produce a special broadcast to address mental health awareness and suicide prevention during the coronavirus pandemic.
To watch the full broadcast, click here.
“Our mission is to save lives, and that means confronting challenging topics like mental health and suicide, especially when so many Americans are facing additional hardships,” stated USCCA President and Founder Tim Schmidt. “More and more people are embracing their Second Amendment rights. But choosing to own a firearm for self-defense comes with an incredible responsibility. We want all gun owners to understand that they are not alone in their fight to protect the people they love and that they have resources available to them if they need help supporting someone during a mental health crisis.”
The challenges created by the coronavirus have led to growing concerns about mental health and safety. For many, these concerns have increased with unprecedented firearms purchases among first-time gun owners.
While the rate of violent crime has continued to drop in recent years and accidental deaths by firearms are at an all-time low, nearly two-thirds of all firearms-related deaths are suicides. The USCCA, which provides self-defense training and legal protection to more than 350,000 responsibly armed American, helped host the broadcast to reach as many gun owners as possible.
Stay updated on news coming from the USCCA on gun ownership amidst the coronavirus crisis and details for first-time gun owners on education and training.
The USCCA provides self-defense education, training and legal protection to responsible American gun owners. Headquartered in West Bend, Wisconsin, the USCCA is the largest and fastest-growing association whose sole focus is the responsibly armed American.
