Gun locks for suicide prevention?

First, this is simplistic and will do little good. They don't just decide to kill themselves. They fight against it for a long time. Then they think about it more. A safety lock will help save some lives, but the lives of others instead of the veteran. When they think of aiming a gun at someone else, having to take the lock off will give them a chance to rethink what they want to do in that moment, so maybe it is a good idea on that part. It won't deter them from taking their own lives. Taking care of what they need will.

Veteran Family Safety: Free Gun Locks
Published 12/05/2011 - 11:10 a.m. CST

Credit - Quentin Melson, Public Affairs Specialist
"I think the free Gun Safety Lock Program is a great deterrent," said VA Police Chief Stanley Staton, above demonstrating how to use a gun lock. "It gives someone who is thinking of ending their life extra time to think about it and hopefully, realize tomorrow might be a better day."
HOUSTON - The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is participating in a Gun Safety Lock Program that has made thousands of free gun safety locks available to Veterans and their families.

Firearm safety has become an increasingly high priority in the Veteran population. While it is true that Veterans are well-trained in the care and use of firearms during military duty, making sure the guns in their homes are secured when they return is a family safety concern. Many Veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have young children who could potentially discover unlocked firearms.

To protect Veterans and their family members, the Under Secretary for Health signed an executive decision memo in 2008 that endorsed Project ChildSafe. The executive memo required the project be implemented in VA medical centers across the country. This program is the nation's largest and most comprehensive firearm safety program.
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