Denise Marks is a resident of Dover.
My family, like millions across this country, lives in a house with an empty chair.
In 2012, I lost my beautiful daughter, Emily, to suicide.
She used a firearm she found in our home.
We thought that the gun was safely stored. We were wrong.
December can be difficult, as the ghosts of winter set in, and the holidays approach.
There will be one less gift to wrap, one less place to set at the table, one less memory to share.
There are no words to describe the loss of a child, especially in such a violent and unexpected way.
On Nov. 24, a University of Delaware student was arrested after police discovered a gun, ammunition and a notebook.
The notebook contained a map of a campus building, as well as a detailed assault plan.
Fortunately, police were able to apprehend the suspect before he was able to carry out his plans.
Rhode Island was not so lucky. On Dec. 13, a gunman killed two and injured nine students on the campus of Brown University.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, in 2024, 44,000 Americans died by firearms, and 25,000 of those were suicides.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death among ages 1-19 in the United States.
As a nurse, I cared for the living and those who were shot and survived.
Annually, 76,000 people survive gunshot injuries. Bullets do not discriminate; they tear through flesh and bone, often leaving devastating injuries.
Each year, $2.8 billion goes toward the immediate and long-term medical care of those injured by firearms.
What can we do?
Join me and other gun violence prevention advocates across the country to push commonsense legislation, education and community engagement. We can reduce the numbers of senseless deaths in this country.
Raise awareness. Encourage open conversations with friends and family regarding firearms.
Educate. The leading method of suicide is the use of a firearm, as in my daughter’s case. It is the fastest and most effective means to take your life.
One moment of self-doubt or of weakness can lead to a devastating end.
Teach safe firearm storage. A firearm should be stored unloaded and locked, with the ammunition and keys stored separately.
The harder it is for someone to access a firearm, the more time it gives them a chance to rethink that choice and to seek help.
Spread awareness of the 988 hotline for those who are in crisis. Anyone can call if they suspect a family member is at risk to harm him- or herself or others.
Together, we can save lives. Thank you for your time.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
