PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gun violence gets the headlines, but two-thirds of gun deaths are suicide.
A bi-partisan group of Montgomery County lawmakers are pushing legislation that would temporarily remove access to guns if someone is a risk to themselves or others. They point to a rising suicide rate, especially among military and first responders.
Phillip Grant with the Norristown Veterans' Center and the Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Task Force said military and many first responders are proficient with guns, and more familiar with death.
"This is a perfect storm for suicide behavior, and unfortunately for many veterans, when a suicide attempt is made by firearm, it's typically 'successful,'" said Grant.
Dr. Kenneth Certa with the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society pointed out they try not to use the term "successful" when discussing suicide. He says the most common treatments like anti-depressants are effective, but generally take a couple weeks to start working.
"It would be so much better if we had a mechanism to get guns away from people for the amount of time that it takes, because therapy does work," he said.
"But if there is a suicide attempt with a gun, there is no tomorrow."
That's where Emergency Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) come in: A civil court order that temporarily removes guns from someone who may be a risk to themselves or others.
Republican State Representative Todd Stephens is in the process of introducing ERPO legislation for a third time. The most recent version never made it out of the Judiciary Committee.
Stephens said ERPO is a better option than involuntary commitment, since ERPO is temporary, but an involuntary commitment means the person can never own guns again – a non-starter in many part of Pennsylvania.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24-hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.
