American Legion Commander Seehafer shaking hands with Maine Senator Angus King at Capitol Hill on March 13 (Photo: Joe Gromelski of Stars and Stripes).
U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) wants American Legion posts nationwide to offer safe places for Veterans to store their firearms. He asked The American Legion to provide lock-and-key storage at their posts across the country.
King suggested this to National Commander of The American Legion Daniel Seehafer during a joint House and Senate committee hearing about supporting Veterans at risk of suicide. King emphasized the importance of American Legion posts as safe spaces for Veterans, suggesting that they could turn to these posts, especially during tough times, to store their guns safely.
Last year, in response to concerns about firearm safety, Senator King urged the VA to allocate funding for providing gun safety locks and lock boxes to Veterans. The VA has since distributed over 20,000 cable gun locks at regional offices and medical centers. These resources are available at outreach events and local VA medical centers.
Veterans represent a significant portion of firearm suicides among adults, one in five, based on 2023 data from the VA.
Seehafer expressed openness to the idea and willingness to cooperate with lawmakers. He acknowledged that a member of an American Legion post had recently reached out to a Legionnaire to help with safely storing their firearms due to mental health struggles.
During the hearing, Seehafer advocated for improving the overall quality of life for Veterans and active-duty Service Members by addressing personal hardships, improving housing conditions, and ensuring timely access to mental health services. Stress and depression are significant factors contributing to the high rate of Veteran suicides, which is 50% higher than that of non-Veterans. According to Seehafer, over 135,000 Veterans have died by suicide since 9/11, surpassing the total number of Americans lost across numerous recent conflicts.
Seehafer called for bipartisan cooperation in addressing Veterans’ issues, stating that these matters should unite Congress in serving those who have served the country.
“Veterans’ issues have traditionally unified Congress because in your hearts we know you love this country and truly wish to serve Veterans, just as Veterans served America,” said Commander Seehafer.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.