New Law Aids in Prevention Of Suicides In Montana

Many laws have come into effect as of the beginning October of this year, one such law helps with suicide prevention.

Acccording to reports from KTVH NBC in Helena, Senate Bill 423, the Good Samaritan Firearm Liability Protection Bill went into law as of Sunday the 1st of October.

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The Good Samaritan Firearm Protection Bill focuses in on suicide prevention by identifying individuals that are suffering from suicidal thoughts and depression who also owns firearms assigning them a "Good Samaritan" buddy to hold on to their firearms temporarily until they can find care and stabilize themselves per a written and/or oral agreement.

Senate Bill 423 was passed with unanimous bi-partisan support as a "collaborative effort" to make Montana communities more safe.

Co-creator Montana Senator Kenneth Bogner Talks to KVTH about passing the bill:

Bills that address firearms very rarely get such huge bi-partisan support. So, to get that many different perspectives felt really good to get this passed the way it did and people feeling this is a big issue.

According to The Montana Department of Health and Human Services, Montana in the  top five in the nation for suicide amongst its population, ranking number 3 in the nation. They mark firearm at 62% and the most common means of suicide in the state ahead of suffocation, poisoning and other means such as overdose and jumping from heights.

This bill aims to help with that staggering statistic and make Montana communities safer and alive for their loved ones.

If you or anyone have any thought of suicide, everyone is encouraged to let someone know as well as contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week.