Our legislators have acknowledged the toll of mental health issues on youth, and have taken (often controversial) steps that they believe will support youth through difficult times. Last session, the Texas Legislature filed six bills related to social media, nearly banned social media for minors under 18, and proclaimed social media “the most dangerous thing our kids have legal access to in Texas.”

We beg to differ. 

When it becomes as easy as pulling a trigger to end one’s own life, temporary moments of crisis turn into permanent tragedies. Suicide attempts with firearms successfully kill victims 90% of the time. That means no second-chances. No chance for another conversation. No chance for another tomorrow. And yet those second-chances are critical. 9 out of 10 people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide because they are able to get the help that they need. Time and distance save lives. If we are serious about protecting young Texans, we must treat access to lethal means, especially firearms, as a central part of suicide prevention.

It’s not just about protecting children struggling with their mental health. Adolescence is a time of heightened impulsivity and emotional volatility for everyone. Proximity to a firearm ratchets up these tensions and makes deadly decisions more likely. Researchers have found that youth without mental health disorders who died by suicide were significantly more likely to have used firearms, while youth with documented mental health disorders were more likely to use other means. This suggests that those youth who go on to die by firearm suicide are more likely to be acting impulsively, as opposed to those who premeditate their suicides.

Lethal means matter, but the Legislature has ignored that half of the story. We know that investments in mental health have to be coupled with better firearms policy that ensures the safety of our youth. Research shows that states with higher minimum ages to purchase a firearm have lower suicide death rates, but this session, the Texas Legislature rejected a policy to raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles without a hearing and instead contemplated legislation to lower the age to carry a handgun to 18. Whatever our politics, our policies should move in the direction of saving young lives.

It’s time that we have an honest conversation about mental health and firearms. As young Texans, we are calling on every Texas lawmaker to hold a public district town hall on the epidemic of gun violence and firearm suicide before the year ends. We’re simply asking them to do what they were elected to do: show up and hear directly from survivors, gun owners, parents, first responders, teachers, and young people about what’s happening in our schools, our homes, and our communities.

We owe it to our classmates, siblings, and friends to do more than argue about apps on a phone while ignoring what sits in a bedside drawer.

Together, we can push for the open, honest conversations on gun violence that our communities deserve. It starts with one simple ask to your lawmakers: Will you show up and listen?

If you or someone you know may be thinking about suicide, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. Getting help is a sign of strength, and for many young people it’s the beginning of a second chance.