As we close out two seasons of Let’s Talk About Your Guns, we reflect on what we’ve learned about secure firearm storage and its role in preventing suicide. Are people getting the message? What barriers still stand in the way? And how can we move forward?

In this episode, we reconnect with past guests Dr. Emmy Betz, Reba Rice-Portwood, Jay Zimmerman, Dr. Mike Anestis, Dr. Joseph Simonetti, and Julie Still, to talk about what has changed—and what still needs to. One theme remains clear: meaningful change happens through trust, connection, and meeting people where they are.

Whether you’re a gun owner, a healthcare provider, or simply someone who cares about saving lives, this conversation highlights the power of small steps, open dialogue, and the courage to start the conversation.

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When Bill Mays first started carrying a gun, he believed it was the key to his personal safety. As a firearms trainer and enthusiast, he had guns everywhere—until one moment of crisis changed everything. In this episode of Let's Talk About Your Guns, Bill shares his journey from firearm advocate to safe storage educator, revealing how a missing gun saved his life.

Dr. Curt West is also joined by Dr. Tara Warner to explore the psychology behind protective gun ownership and why the perception of safety often overshadows real risks. Together, they unpack the tension between security and accessibility, offering insights on how open conversations about safe storage can prevent tragedy—without compromising protection.

Leslie Hu was in a custody dispute with her ex-husband when he took his own life and that of their son, Pierce, in an act of gun violence. Tragically, her story highlights a growing crisis: filicide during custody battles, a lethal combination of conflict and firearm access. Leslie and family law attorney Monica Mazzei share their journey to create Pierce’s Pledge. Their movement encourages family law attorneys to require clients to remove guns from the home during disputes. One simple precaution—removing firearms from the home during emotionally charged times—can prevent tragedy. This episode is about creating safe spaces for children and families and using practical measures to save lives when tensions run high.

Carson Molle was a typical teenager, but he kept a dark secret. As he struggled in school and sports, he became depressed. Then one day he tried to end his own life, but survived. In this episode, Carson and his mother Amber talk about safe gun storage in their family and the importance of preventing unsupervised access by teens. Dr. Stephen Cozza, child psychiatrist, joins the conversation to explore teenage impulsivity, mental illness, and the critical need for parents to have open discussions about mental health and firearm safety. 

In this episode of "Let's Talk About Your Guns", Dr. West speaks with gun shop owners Caleb Morse and Jacquelyn Clark about their experiences with firearm storage and suicide prevention. They discuss how their shops handle the delicate process of accepting firearms for storage, often due to personal crises, and the importance of building trust with customers. The conversation also covers the critical role gun dealers have in preventing firearm suicides by engaging in open, direct conversations and ensuring that safe storage practices are understood and implemented at home. The discussion highlights the nuanced challenges of balancing safety, access, and responsibility in the firearms industry.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Your Guns, Dr. West sits down with Reba Rice Portwood, a former corrections officer who shares her deeply personal journey from witnessing gun violence to becoming a single mother struggling with the realities of firearm ownership. Reba opens up about the terrifying encounter that led her to purchase a firearm and the tragic loss of her son that changed her perspective on having a firearm in her home. Joined by Dr. Lindsay Monteith, a clinical research psychologist specializing in suicide prevention, they discuss the rising trend of gun ownership among women and the unique challenges that women with firearms may face. Through candid conversations, this episode delves into the critical importance of trauma-informed approaches to women and firearm safety and the life-saving potential of open, empathetic dialogue about safe gun storage.

“But I don’t own guns, and I don’t know anyone who does.” Think again, guns are present in 43 percent of American households. In this episode of Let's Talk About Your Guns, Dr. Curt West is joined by podcast production team member Kristina Medvescek and Dr. John Bradley from the VA Boston Healthcare System to discuss the importance of relevance of firearm safety conversations, even for those who may not initially recognize their significance. Whether you're a firearm owner or not, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to have meaningful conversations about firearm safety with people in your life.

Resources, transcript and more at https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts

Sometimes conversations about safe storage break down. Someone you care about has ready access to firearms, but they are behaving in ways that you know make them unsafe. Extreme Risk Protection Orders were created to meet that need. We hear from Dorothy Paugh, who was instrumental in getting Extreme Risk Protection Orders - or Red Flag laws - passed in her home state of Maryland. We also talk to Dr Shannon Frattaroli about the effectiveness of these laws in preventing gun violence. Finally, we talk with Montgomery County Maryland Sheriff Darren Popkin about how these laws really work in the community.

Resources, transcripts and more at https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts

Four in ten American households own guns. Yet many couples may never discuss safe storage until there is a crisis situation. In this episode, we discuss how to talk about guns, safety and risk with those who are the closest and most important people in our lives: our spouses and partners. We hear from Julie Still, whose conversation about safe storage with her husband may have saved his life. We’ll also hear from Dr. Leanne Knobloch, who offers guidance for spouses who want to talk about firearm safety but aren't sure how to do it.

Resources, transcripts and more at https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts

Each year thousands of ordinary Americans have a chance to say "Yes" to saving the life of a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance. How? Simply by having a conversation about firearm safety. In this episode, we explore how trusted members of a community act as gatekeepers in suicide prevention. We hear from Reverend Seth Still, whose experience with his own guns in a dark time changed the conversations with the people he serves. We’ll also hear from Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, an epidemiologist who discusses how gatekeepers can make a difference.

Resources, transcripts and more at https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts