Three parents of children who died by suicide spoke with lawmakers on Friday, each sharing personal details of the searing loss in hopes that the other’s life could be saved.
For Rob Black of Essex, his retelling comes nearly four years after he and his wife came to Montpelier to support a waiting period for gun purchases. But Governor Phil Scott refused.
This time, Essex Democrat Rep. Alyssa Black, elected on the gun reform platform in 2020, sits across a long table and quietly listens to her husband’s testimony with other members of the House Health Care Committee. was
Their son Andrew, 23, had just started his dream job as a craft brewer. He purchased the handgun on December 6, 2018 after being distraught by a social media post. He left the store at 11:20 am and was dead by 4:30 pm.
“It’s about firearms. It’s about guns. But it’s about time,” said Black. “If he had had some time to move to another place, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you now. I really believe so.”
A similar message was shared by Paul Henninge of Burlington, husband of Vermont Law School professor Cheryl Hannah. She committed suicide in 2014, just days after she turned 48, using a handgun she had purchased the day before. “Easy access seems silly to me,” he said.
Williston’s Emily Hackett Fisk advocated the creation of criminal penalties for unsafe firearm storage. Her eldest son, Ryan, 12, loved hiking and appreciated a sharp haircut. rice field. He had access to an unsafe gun in another house.
She also hopes to see a stronger line of support for family and friends after death from suicide. I was.
Hackett-Fiske learned that in 2020, another child under the age of 14 committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound, looking at statistics provided annually by the Vermont Department of Health.
“I never met the family. I don’t know who they are,” she said. “I feel sorry for them because they may not have access to the resources that we have.”
According to these statistics, 142 Vermonters will die by suicide in 2021, the highest number ever recorded. The average number over the last ten years is 122 per year. By 2021 figures, Vermont’s suicide rate per 100,000 population is 50% higher than the United States as a whole. More than half of them died from firearm use.
Desiree Hawkins of St. Johnsbury’s goal is also a twin: accountability and more support for survivors. His son Noah, 12, committed suicide in November after struggling at school.
“I’m not saying he was perfect, but what he went through wasn’t what he should have had.” hope to bring
Hawkins also advocated for more mental health support in schools, a plea repeated by school officials the day before the House Board of Education. she said.
Legislators were frequently moved to tears during their testimony, and many seemed inspired.
“I’m speaking for myself, not for the committee, but I’ll do everything I can personally to make sure you never have to say this again,” he said. Commission chair Lori Horton (D-Essex Junction) told Rob Black. That feeling echoed through the dining table.
If you are in danger or need someone else’s help, dial 988 on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) or call the Crisis Text Line. Dial 741741 with the text VT.
