Alabama veteran suicide prevention advocates are recruiting firearm retailers across the state to offer safe storage for guns, aiming to prevent suicides among veterans feeling at risk. Fourteen gun retailers in 10 counties have already agreed to participate in this new program, with gun safes expected to be placed in these stores by the end of the month.
The initiative, led by S.A.F.E.R. Together, seeks to expand its reach across Alabama. Jason Smith, founder and chair of S.A.F.E.R. Together, stated the "ultimate goal" is to have at least one participating retailer in each of Alabama’s 67 counties, with a target of two per county. Smith expects to sign up 20 firearm retailers by the end of the year and is actively seeking more gun shops in areas with high suicide rates, specifically mentioning Tuscaloosa, Mobile County, and Calhoun County.
This effort coincides with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs' launch of its Operation We Remember campaign on Wednesday. This campaign honors veterans in the state who have died by suicide, with staff laying down 150 flags to commemorate those lost in 2024.
The need for such programs is underscored by stark statistics on veteran suicide in Alabama. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the suicide rate for veterans in Alabama was 35.4 per 100,000 people in 2021, significantly higher than the statewide rate of 20.1 per 100,000 for the total population in the same year. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that veterans frequently face elevated risk factors for suicide, including financial difficulties such as unemployment or homelessness, pain or trauma from their service, or struggles adjusting to civilian life.
Sandra Lucas, deputy commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, highlighted the challenges of transitioning from military service. She noted that veterans often find themselves in an unfamiliar situation without the structured environment they were accustomed to, which "can be overwhelming, especially if other life triggers come into play."
Firearms play a significant role in suicides within the state. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that Alabama ranked fourth nationally for firearm mortality in 2024, with 23.7 deaths per 100,000 total population. Only Mississippi, New Mexico, and Alaska reported higher rates. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention further reported that in 2024, 73% of suicides in Alabama involved a firearm, and suicides accounted for 48% of all firearm deaths that year.
Some areas of the state bear a disproportionately heavy burden of suicide. National Institutes of Health data from 2020 to 2024 indicates that Calhoun County has the fourth highest suicide rate in Alabama, at 22.9 suicide-related deaths per 100,000 total population. Cleburne County recorded the highest rate during this period, with 31 deaths per 100,000 total population.
The initiative by S.A.F.E.R. Together is supported by recent state legislation. In 2025, the Alabama Legislature passed SB 40, sponsored by Senator Keith Kelley (R-Anniston). This law permits gun owners to enter into an agreement with a gun shop owner, allowing the shop to take possession of a firearm and store it for an agreed-upon period before returning it. Crucially, the legislation protects the gun shop owner from legal liability after the firearm is returned to its original owner.
Senator Kelley expressed his appeal to firearm dealers in a statement on Wednesday, urging them to participate. "I am asking Alabama’s gun dealers to step up and help us save lives," Kelley said. He emphasized that these dealers understand firearms and responsible gun ownership, making them well-suited to "provide a safe place when someone says, ‘I need some time away from my gun.’" The expansion of this program aims to provide a vital resource for veterans in crisis, offering a temporary, secure option for firearm storage.
