Everyone knows someone now who has died by suicide. My husband died 10 weeks after this sweet photo was taken. I wonder how many of them would still be alive today, if they had the gift of time, to get help and for the crisis moment to pass? I wonder how many would be alive, if they had HELP brought to them, when they needed it MOST? We know people suffer in silence, and we MUST protect our loved ones from making a permanent decision for a temporary problem. 

What if this was your son? Or husband or sister or friend? What if you knew they were suicidal and concerned they were going to go buy a gun and put a bullet through their head? They are not thinking clearly when in this state! 

Right now, there is NO WAY to stop them from doing just that. 911 can’t even stop it. Can they find another method? You bet! What the bill would do, is BUY PRECIOUS TIME AND BRING THEM HELP. And certainly NOT allow them to purchase a gun, when someone is going to DIE. 

If someone has the intention to kill themselves or someone else, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUY A GUN. This is a temporary flag, that lasts only for a handful of days, and buys precious time and brings mental health on board to help them. 

Will this solve everything? Not even close!! We have so much work to do around this and it will take a village to get our shocking statistics down. It all starts with compassion and empathy.

We need this bill to pass yesterday, I’m trying to be patient but my word, this is so slow moving and people are DYING! In my widows group and suicide support group, new people are dropping in by the handfuls, DAILY.  ENOUGH! Being a suicide survivor is no cake walk! IT IS HELL, and a club I hope you never have to be a part of. 

PLEASE tell Senator Wyden to get Matty’s Bill written so we can get this desperately needed law passed! PLEASE tell him we want to do a TRIAL RUN of this, in my hometown of Bend, OR! This is the perfect area to do this, as we have the upgraded technology, and would work beautifully with 988 and The Stabilization Center here in town, the first in Oregon, and leading the nation! They are the emergency mental health professionals who will go to the scene and be of help! 

I’ve spoken with heaps of police officers, mental health care workers, dispatchers, hunters and pro-gun people, AND THEY ALL AGREE, THAT THIS ONE, MAKES SENSE! They all say this is needed, really CAN work, needs to be implemented, does NOT take away gun rights, and will SAVE PRECIOUS LIVES! 

Please share with your friends and ask them to sign! Thank you! As always, super grateful for money donated to help circulate! I cannot do this without you and I’m thankful for you! 

If you have lost someone to gun violence and/or suicide, PLEASE leave a comment with their name. I would love to pray for you, and honor their sweet soul. 

RIP M@

Passionately and sincerely,

Sonja Rice