The Suicide-Proof Gun Project

The Suicide-Proof Gun Project, founded in 2019 to spur the design, manufacture, commercialization and sale of firearms that cannot be used to die by suicide.

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@DanGrossPAX @PincusRob Thx for the reply & further info. Totally agree re mkt forces; we see the biggest hurdle as *not* tech innovation but commercialization. For cars, positioning safety devices as luxury feature +/-indications of premier design was what worked, not as safety features per se.

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Thoughtful op-ed by @dangrosspax but it neglects the possibility that technological innovation has a role to play in reducing gun violence, especially #gunsuicide. The tech innovation strategy worked w/ cars & many consumer products — let’s try it w/ guns.
https://t.co/4scHiM7yJ4

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@paulwaldman1’s recent op-ed on gun violence exhorts America to “think bigger” about our gun problem, but doesn’t even mention suicide by gun - 2/3 of annual US gun deaths. Gun suicide is gun violence. Technological innovation must be part of the solution. https://t.co/gBRjwIdeSY

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@Jambo_11 @MLB One final thought for this evening. A big part of our approach is that wanting to reduce gun suicide doesn’t have to be in conflict w/ the 2nd Amendment. Suicide-proofing guns will save the lives of gun owners. We think that’s a worthy goal! 6/6

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Putting #gun #suicide in perspective: from latest CDC data: during an average-length @MLB game (3 hrs), on average 8 Americans will die by gun suicide. #toomany

Creating a @SuicideProofGun is part of the solution to reducing suicide-by-gun

(Data source: https://t.co/vRQmOHN1yo)

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@Jambo_11 @MLB Your critiques are spot-on. The technical challenges are immense & so are the commercial ones. But if no one is out there championing the idea, it’ll never take off. The idea behind the @SuicideProofGun Project is try help jump-start development of these sorts of weapons. 5/

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@Jambo_11 @MLB An overarching point that’s very important: the development and commercialization of suicide-proof weapons is a marathon, not a sprint. Airbags were conceived of in 1952. It took 40+ yrs before the technology was robust and in the majority of new cars. /4

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@Jambo_11 @MLB The 2nd point is, as they say, “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” — meaning that if, once suicide-proof guns are available, they only stop, say, 1.5% of gun suicides, that’s 1 life per day. If we can at least reduce gun suicide, that’s a win (at least in our book!)

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@Jambo_11 @MLB As for “but the person will just find another way” - a couple of thoughts. 1st, ~90% of people who make a 1st suicide attempt never re-attempt, & ~2/3 of them will not ultimately die from suicide. So stopping that 1st attempt is crucial. Source: https://t.co/NHTWWJ4oNf

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

@kristoferjohann thanks for the follow. Just to introduce ourselves: we’re an organization believes that support of the #2a isn’t in conflict with working to reduce #gun #suicide — specifically by trying to spur the development of a @SuicideProofGun.

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Astounding 37% rise in homicides in 20 largest US cities this year. Seems highly likely that #gunsuicide has surged as well. A technological solution to reducing gun suicide is sorely needed to compliment other effort to reduce its horrific toll. https://t.co/K1CvoN3xiK

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Know any patent attorneys or lawyers who practice intellectual property law? Please DM us, we have a need for their expertise!

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

It won’t happen overnight—but it will happen.

1952: John Hetrick imagines the airbag

1973: 1st sale of a car w/ one

Mid-90s: most cars sold w/ one

Since then: 50,000+lives saved

2019: we launch the @SuicideProofGun Project...

https://t.co/9KKUXsHvfd

https://t.co/XBs0680RdK

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Re-designing things can *save* lives from #suicide. Consider paper clothing—per the article below, it can help prevent prison suicides.

So: let’s figure out how to do something similar with #firearms via inventing a @SuicideProofGun.

https://t.co/xpbs7P1pgt

[The Suicide-Proof Gun Project @SuicideProofGun]

Researchers predict the #COVID-19 recession means up to 20 additional #firearms #suicide deaths per day.

This equals an annual death toll of over 32,000 gun suicides—an increase of ~25%.

How might creating a @SuicideProofGun help to “flatten the curve”?

https://t.co/jtYiKxXiVa