A Preliminary Message

Within the contents of this entry, it is not my aim to align with a particular political perspective or orientation concerning firearms. Furthermore, I believe that the fact that I must make my centrist stance clear inadvertently shows the polarization of opinion on this topic.

The aim of this entry is entirely to bring awareness to problem itself, not take a stance within it. It is important for individuals to remember that firearms are here, and the more avoidance we have to them the more we risk avoiding problems such as suicide. Dually, however, it is just important to remember that mental health epidemics are here as well, making it just as important to look at how we can ensure individuals are safe.

The Narrative

In 1954, an ingenious man with no formal education in mechanical engineering or machining by the name of Eugene Stoner founded his company Armalite. Stoner’s new found company out of California was the producer and original patent holder of the AR15 rifle (AR originally meaning Armalite Research).

Being contracted out by the US military to produce the M16 (the military counterpart to the AR15) for the Vietnam war, to eventually producing the AR15 at the consumer level, Stoner’s ingenuity of the gas blowback platform on a lightweight stock has shaken the western world and its view of firearms forever, but perhaps not in the way that is commonly perceived.

When looking back at the history of the AR15 and more specifically its introduction into the commercial market, it was initially met with the most resistance by that of fellow gun enthusiasts. At the time, firearms were seen in a sophisticated light, elevated by the importance of craftsmanship, artisanship, and detailed design used primarily for hunting. There was no need for a tactical, high round capacity platform for the majority of firearm owners, as if you couldn’t pin a buck with the few rounds your grandpa’s bolt action could store, you worked on becoming a better shot.

It is only until social phenomena such as the cold war, and later the drug epidemics of the 80s and 90s that there became a marketable need for such a platform.

This of course was noticed by distributors, using the nomenclator Assault Rifle to categorize the type of firearm that could facilitate defense of threats domestic and abroad for an everyday citizen.

This of course also saw an unfortunate rise of active shooter incidents, as with the introduction into semi automatic rifles into the commercial market (not specifically the AR15), deadly mass shootings arose with such a platform, even beside the fact that most mass shooting throughout history have been and continue to be committed by a semi automatic handguns.

This engaging descriptive of assault weapons that was once used to promote such platforms quickly became a way to demonize them for the hopes of pushing legislation to ban such platforms. While some regulatory efforts were born of genuine concern over public safety, others were arguably leveraged primarily for political capital.

The Culmination

Where does this brief historical account fit into the issue of lethal means safety?

I dedicate a segment of this newsletter to detailing the complicated history and background of what has become such a divisive and complicated topic, gun control and more specifically the AR15, because its continual political flux exemplifies the folly of our ideological certitude, perpetuating a lack of genuine understanding of opposing perspectives. This mutual misunderstanding is one that inadvertently leads to more certitude through a collective self confirmation bias, leading to more misunderstanding of ones opposition.

This as a whole leaves issues such as suicide and lethal means safety untouched, as it means that individuals abandon such certitude for the possibility of genuine understanding, leading to perspectives and solutions that allow individuals to keep their guns and their safety as well.

From this orientation, the issue ceases to focus on weaponized fear but humanized concern for those struggling, a concern that reaches beyond the pen and paper of legislation and touches on real experience, real people, and real lives saved.

Local Initiatives and Involvements

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 2025 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN MESA COUNTY Register Here!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): September 18-19, November 6-7 This two-day workshop(16 hours) helps participants learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): September 26, October 17, December 5 This eight (8) hour training teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth MHFA): August 29 This Six and half (6.5) hour training for adults who regularly interact with people ages 12-18. It introduces common mental health challenges, typical adolescent development, and plan for how to help in crisis and non-crisis situations

Soul Shop™: October 2 This 90-minute workshop equips faith community leaders and other people of faith to train their congregations to minister to those impacted by suicidal desperation.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call or text 988. The National Suicide Hotline is staffed around the clock with certified members of the American Association of Suicidology. Or the Crisis Text Line, text CO to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform.