Law can prevent suicides

In regard to the recent rally by gun rights advocates outside the State House, I am the mother who asked Del. Geraldine ValentinoSmith to introduce the Extreme Risk Prevention Orders bill to temporarily remove firearms from those who show signs they might harm themselves or others (“Gun rights advocates stage rally outside State House,” April 14). I became an “informed mom” after losing my 25-year-old son Pete to suicide by gun in 2012.

My son did not give us any warnings. Had my mother had recourse to such a law in 1965, however, she might have been able to stop my father from shooting himself. My dad bought a handgun and laid out his will and life insurance papers. My mom called his best friend and our priest. They came and talked to dad but did not ask if he would surrender his gun. A few days later, he asked Mom to take all five of us kids to the pool for the afternoon, called police, and shot himself.

Guns are, indeed, the problem when it comes to preventing suicide. Many family members do see signs and this law will empower them to seek an order for removal of the most lethal common method as well as an emergency mental health evaluation. Other methods allow more time for second thoughts or life-saving interventions.

It's not about disarming every gun owner, just the ones who show they may be suicidal or homicidal. Over 250 Marylanders shoot themselves every year, and they are mostly white males from rural counties who are more likely to use a gun and thus have a much higher suicide rate. More often than not, protection of self and family means removing the temptation of a loaded gun during a crisis.