In 2022, the University of Michigan released a study stating that for the first time in American History, guns rather than accidents or illness are the leading cause of death for American children. While some want to ignore the imperative that gun safety is everyone’s responsibility, I pledge not to remain silent or passive on this matter of life or death that impacts us all. Just as automobile safety laws have reduced deaths from automobiles, firearm safety laws can reduce gun deaths. Much as nobody is going to take away a person’s car without due process, nobody is going to take away a law abiding person’s guns. Grand Traverse County needs firearm safety laws be enforced in our county for the safety of all. Compliance with Michigan law by the gun shop would have saved our son’s life. A ticket to the shop owner by the County Prosecutor as requested by the Grand Traverse County Sherriff’s complaint filed after Aaron’s death would have signaled that in Grand Traverse County, gun safety laws will not be ignored.
To prevent suicide and suffering, I have been active in supporting committees that seek to build new regional in-patient mental health facilities and improve programs in Grand Traverse Center to promote healing and mental wellness. People suffering, as Aaron was, from life threatening anxiety, depression or other aspects of serious mental illness must not be turned away due to a shortage of beds, psychiatrists or therapists at Northern Lakes Community Mental Health and Munson Medical Center, who are partners in this lifesaving mission. We know we can prevent suicide deaths in northern Michigan. I pledge to do it.